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Biochemistry Lab
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A lab that explores cell differentiation and disease through transcription factors, the switches of our genes.
AboutAbout the lab
Decoding cell fate and disease from gene switches
The Division of Biochemistry studies how gene expression is regulated and how cell differentiation and cell responses are determined.
Focusing on transcription factors and chromatin structure regulators, which act as gene switches, the lab investigates hematopoietic stem cell differentiation, immune cell responses, and the mechanisms of cancer development.
Research combines biochemical and molecular biology techniques with mass spectrometry, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics.
The lab provides education and research supervision in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Health Sciences at the undergraduate level, and in the Doctoral Program in Medicine and the Master's Program in Medical Science at the graduate level.
Key terms
- Transcription factor
- A protein that binds to specific sites on DNA and regulates how actively nearby genes are expressed
- Chromatin
- The structure in the cell nucleus formed when DNA is bound to proteins. It affects how easily genes can be activated
- Hematopoietic stem cell
- A cell that gives rise to all types of blood cells, such as red blood cells and white blood cells
- Next-generation sequencer
- An instrument that reads the order of DNA or RNA sequences in massive parallel
NewsLab news
Explainer video released for the paper on anti-aging ferroptosis (Cell Reports)
Explainer video released for the paper on the control of plasma cell differentiation by BACH2 and IRF4 (EMBO J)
ResearchResearch themes
The lab works to clarify how the expression of about 20,000 genes is regulated in an integrated way, and how this determines cell differentiation and cell responses. Based on gene regulatory networks, it aims to elucidate disease conditions such as cancer, degenerative diseases, and anemia, and to develop the findings into treatment strategies.
*Illustrative imageTranscription factors BACH1 and BACH2
Transcription factors bind to regulatory sequences of genes and control the expression of nearby genes. Focusing mainly on two transcription factors, BACH1 and BACH2, the lab seeks to clarify their physiological functions through the relationship between gene regulatory networks and heme metabolism.
*Illustrative imageLinking metabolism and the epigenome
Methylation of histones, DNA, and RNA occurs using SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), a methyl group donor. Focusing on the function of SAM synthetase in the nucleus, the lab aims to clarify the link between metabolism and the epigenome and epitranscriptome.
*Illustrative imageHematopoietic stem cell differentiation and its abnormalities
The lab investigates how the gene regulatory networks formed by BACH and SAM metabolism control the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. It aims to clarify how abnormalities in this process relate to anemia and leukemia, and to bridge the findings to new strategies such as treatments. The lab proposes the Inner Myeloid model.
*Illustrative imageImmune responses of B cells and plasma cells
Centering on the development and differentiation of B lymphocytes and antibody-producing cells (plasma cells), the lab aims to clarify the gene regulatory networks formed by BACH and IRF4, as well as the function of SAM synthetase. It aims to extend the findings to treatment strategies for autoimmune diseases, myeloma, and other conditions.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Division of Biochemistry are faculty, doctoral researchers, students in the doctoral program, master's program, and Department of Medicine, and secretaries and support staff.
- ProfessorKazuhiko Igarashi
- Associate ProfessorAkihiko Muto
- Assistant ProfessorKyoko Ochiai
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “Rotor for microtubes of an Eppendorf Centrifuge 5430” Karbohut / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Transcription factors BACH1 and BACH2: “Structural studies of Ets-1 Pax5 complex formation on DNA - 1K78” Garvie CW, Hagman J, Wolberger C / CC0 (cropped)
- Linking metabolism and the epigenome: “DNA methylation” Christoph Bock, Max Planck Institute for Informatics / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and its abnormalities: “Blood cells under the microscope 02” Korinna / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Immune responses of B cells and plasma cells: “Plasma B Cell (NIH BioArt 640981)” Courtesy of NIAID Ryan Kissinger / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Stem Cell Medicine Lab): “Onion cells under the fluorescence microscope 2” Kateryna Kot / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Environmental Medicine Lab): “Disposable Pipette Tips in Laboratory Tip Boxes 02” Gannu03 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Genome Preventive Medicine Lab (Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization)): “Laboratory microcentrifuge tubes and pipette tips 02” Gannu03 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Medical Biochemistry Lab): “Pipette de laboratoire sur fond blanc au Bénin 03” Adoscam / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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