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Metabolic Network Science Lab
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A lab that explores plant metabolism, using aroma compounds among its clues.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding the latent potential of plants through the science of metabolism
The Metabolic Network Science Lab studies the mechanisms of metabolism inside plants, focusing on metabolites, which are organic compounds.
The lab aims to clarify how plants allocate the energy they produce for themselves, and how they produce different metabolites in both quantity and quality in response to the environment.
By analyzing volatile organic compounds, the components of odor, the lab explores how compounds in soil affect plant growth and how the aroma of tomatoes and other crops is produced.
Developing measurement technologies using analytical instruments is also one of the main pillars of the lab's research.
Key terms
- Metabolite
- Organic compounds common to all organisms. They include primary metabolites, which are essential for life, and secondary metabolites, which are made from them.
- Volatile organic compound (VOC)
- Organic compounds that make up odors, also called VOCs. They may also be stored in plants in a water-soluble form.
- Metabolome analysis
- Analysis that measures the amounts of aroma compounds, their precursors, and other metabolites.
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The Metabolic Network Science Lab aims to use omics analysis to clarify how plant metabolic networks change in response to environmental changes or genetic mutations. Its research themes fall broadly into two areas: developing measurement technologies with analytical instruments, and using those technologies to profile volatile organic compounds and to elucidate plant metabolic networks.
*Illustrative imagePlant rhizosphere communication mediated by odor
The lab began this research in 2019 based on the hypothesis that VOCs are involved in communication through roots in the soil. The VOCs it identifies will be applied as markers for controlling the quality and yield of vegetables grown in fields with different nutrient conditions.
*Illustrative imageHow tomato aroma is produced
The lab surveys tomato varieties on a large scale, performs metabolome analysis and gene expression analysis on varieties that differ in precursor levels, and integrates the data. It searches for key genes that control the biosynthesis of aroma compounds, aiming to develop new varieties with superior flavor.
*Illustrative imageMetabolic regulation of premium aroma compounds
Using valuable samples provided through collaborations with companies and with researchers in Japan and overseas, the lab analyzes links to genetic background. It aims to clarify the mechanisms regulating the metabolism of premium aroma compounds that can be obtained only from varieties grown in limited locations. Based on these findings, the lab aims to add these traits to existing varieties, and currently works with coffee and cherry blossom (sakura).
*Illustrative imageThe role of green light in plant metabolism
Why red light and blue light produce different metabolites remains unresolved. Using high-performance LEDs to examine the effects of light quality in detail, the lab has shown that green light also holds a key to plant biomass and the production of useful substances. This will lead to plant factories capable of adding desired traits to plants.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Metabolic Network Science Lab consist of faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and technical assistants.As of 2025
- ProfessorMiyako Kusano
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: “Metabolomic analyses ( )” Oak Ridge National Laboratory / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Plant rhizosphere communication mediated by odor: “Pot bound roots of a sampling” Suresh Khole / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- How tomato aroma is produced: “Tomato varieties at Porto Alegre organic food fair - Brazil” André Ganzarolli Martins / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Metabolic regulation of premium aroma compounds: “Tea garden at Nagri in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, India” UnpetitproleX / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The role of green light in plant metabolism: “Terramera scientists working in a climate-controlled growth chamber located in Vancouver, BC. The space uses LED lighting, which supports plant growth. ( )” Simon Fraser University - Communications & Marketing / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab
(作物学研究室): “Tomato cultivation in France (2)” Mouh2jijel / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped) - Related lab (植物遺伝情報解析学研究室): “The budding Seedling” Martin Stübler / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (植物育種学研究室): “Cucumis melo - Диня - Український сорт Забавка” Zenon Sych / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (食資源利用科学研究室): “Semi-desert vegetation in Lamu” HassanA2023 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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