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Molecular Cell Biology Lab
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The lab explores how cells process signals and turn them into responses.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the beauty of living organisms through cellular information processing
The Molecular Cell Biology Lab studies how cells process the various signals they receive and turn them into responses.
The lab approaches this question from the perspectives of post-translational modification and localization control of proteins, and communication between organelles.
The lab also conducts research on new functional links between nerves and the immune system in the brain, and on neuroethology using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Graduate students can join through the Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences Course in the Department of Life Science at the Graduate School of Life Science.
Key terms
- Post-translational modification
- The addition of chemical marks to a protein after it has been made, which switches the protein's function
- Organelle
- A small structure with a defined role inside a cell, such as the mitochondrion or the endoplasmic reticulum
- Innate immunity
- The inborn first line of defense that acts first when viruses or other pathogens enter the body
NewsLab news
Joint research with the University of Tokyo identified a neutrophil population that works in defense against viral infection (iScience)
A paper on the mechanism by which stress regulates antiviral responses was published in iScience
A paper on antiviral defense through membrane topology inversion of GGCX was published in Science
A student received the Student Excellent Presentation Award at the 144th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
A review article by graduate students and Associate Professor Okazaki was published in Farumashia
ResearchResearch themes
The lab seeks to uncover how cells process the signals they receive and turn them into responses, through protein modification and coordination between organelles. Its work covers host defense against viral infection and switching of membrane protein orientation, among other topics.
*Illustrative imageDefense mechanisms against viral infection
Upon viral infection, interferon production and apoptosis occur downstream of IPS-1/MAVS, an adaptor molecule of innate immunity. The lab explores how these responses are selectively used, by studying new modifications of IPS-1 and its binding partners.
*Illustrative imageCarboxylation of proteins
Carboxylation by GGCX, a vitamin K-dependent enzyme, was long thought to occur only in extracellular proteins. The lab found that IPS-1, an antiviral response molecule, undergoes this modification, and aims for a comprehensive understanding of how the modification works.
*Illustrative imageInversion of membrane protein orientation
The lab found that GGCX in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane inverts its orientation within the membrane (its topology) under stress and modifies proteins inside the cell. It aims to fully elucidate the mechanism that controls this topology inversion.
*Illustrative imageCommunication between organelles
Focusing on new interactions between mitochondria and peroxisomes, and between mitochondria and stress granules, the lab investigates in more detail the roles they play in cell function.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Molecular Cell Biology Lab consist of faculty, secretaries, technical assistants, and doctoral and master's students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorTomohiko Okazaki
- Assistant ProfessorNao Morimoto
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) particles (orange) found in extracellular space and budding from the plasma membrane of infected cells (teal)” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Defense mechanisms against viral infection: “Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV- )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Carboxylation of proteins: “Phytomenadione 3D” Jovan.gec / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Inversion of membrane protein orientation: “Endoplasmic reticulum -- Smart-Servier” Laboratoires Servier / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Communication between organelles: “Peroxisome in rat neonatal cardiomyocyte” Evgeniy Ukraine / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (遺伝子病制御研究所 病態研究部門 感染腫瘍学分野): “Ulcer-causing Bacterium (H.Pylori) Crossing Mucus Layer of Stomach” Illustration Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (遺伝子病制御研究所 病態研究部門 ゲノム医生物学分野): “Condensation1” Ascendinglotus2 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生体分析化学研究室): “Molecubes SPECT uCT and PET” Adville / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生体分子機能学研究室): “Lüsosüümi kristallid pv” Taavi.Ivan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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