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Molecular Biochemistry Lab
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A lab that explores how the genome works through chromatin and the cell nucleus.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding genome function through chromatin and the nucleus.
The Molecular Biochemistry Lab conducts research aimed at elucidating epigenetic functions and applying them.
The structure of chromatin, which is made of DNA and histones, and the interactions between chromatin and the cell nucleus play an important role in regulating how the genome functions.
This regulation of genome function by chromatin and the cell nucleus is called epigenetics, and it is closely linked to biological phenomena such as development, differentiation, aging, and disease.
In addition to the molecular biology of chromatin and the cell nucleus, the faculty's areas of expertise include X-ray microscopy and biophysics.
Key terms
- Epigenetics
- The regulation of genome function by chromatin and the cell nucleus. It is linked to development, differentiation, aging, and disease.
- Chromatin
- A structure composed of DNA and histones.
- Histone
- A protein that forms chromatin together with DNA.
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of epigenetics, the regulation of genome function by chromatin and the cell nucleus, and to explore ways to control it artificially. Epigenetics is also increasingly being applied to the production and breeding of agricultural, livestock, and fishery products and to evaluating the functional properties of foods.
*Illustrative imageActin-related proteins in the nucleus
The lab reported that some actin-related proteins (Arps) accumulate in the cell nucleus, and is investigating their functions. It found that Arps regulate the function of chromatin remodeling enzymes, and also studies histones and the enzymes involved.
*Illustrative imageChromatin dynamics, aging, and rejuvenation
Using budding yeast, the lab has shown that ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) that have suffered DNA double-strand breaks move on their own to the site where repair takes place and are thereby stabilized. Through such analyses, it aims to elucidate mechanisms of aging and rejuvenation that are conserved all the way to humans.
MembersFaculty
The Molecular Biochemistry Lab consists of faculty members and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasahiko Harata
- Associate ProfessorChihiro Horigome
- Associate ProfessorYuki Takayama
- Associate ProfessorMasafumi Hidaka
- Assistant ProfessorYukako Oma
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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: “Chromatin (NIH BioArt )” Courtesy of NIAID Ryan Kissinger / Public domain (cropped)
- Actin-related proteins in the nucleus: “Protein Xenopus laevis nucleosome (45) PDB 1aoi” Emw / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Chromatin dynamics, aging, and rejuvenation: “SK8-18-2 human derived cells, fluorescence microscopy ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (応用生命分子解析): “LOV2 domain of phototropin-2 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana” TBwichem / CC0 (cropped)
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- Related lab (食品化学): “Bureau of Chemistry Oil, Fat, and Wax Laboratory - DPLA - f3d71e939597ba23c14e80ed6d722d1b” United States. Food and Drug Administration / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (応用微生物学): “Microbiology techniques 2” Luis Fernando Flores LAB / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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