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Molecular Developmental Biology Lab
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A lab that uses zebrafish to explore blood cell development and the stress response.
AboutAbout the lab
Solving the mysteries of developmental biology at the gene level
The Molecular Developmental Biology Lab seeks to understand biological phenomena such as development, cell differentiation, disease, and aging through how genes function (gene expression).
Its central focus is the mechanisms that determine cell fate and the mechanisms that respond to stress.
For its research, the lab uses zebrafish, a fish that is amenable to genetic approaches and from which large numbers of individuals can be readily obtained.
The lab's website also introduces it under the name "Kobayashi Lab."
Key terms
- Gene expression
- The process by which genes are switched on and off and their functions appear in cells. It underlies development, disease, and aging.
- Epigenetics
- Mechanisms that regulate whether genes are switched on or off without changing the DNA sequence.
- Zebrafish
- A small vertebrate fish commonly used in developmental biology. Its embryos and larvae are transparent, and genetic approaches can be applied to it.
- Nrf2 pathway
- A cellular defense mechanism that protects the body from stress and toxic substances arising inside and outside the body.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab seeks to understand a wide range of biological phenomena related to development, environmental response, aging, and regeneration at the level of genes and proteins. To observe multiple levels at once, from molecules to animal populations, it uses zebrafish, which allow observation of both cells and whole organisms and can be raised in groups.
*Illustrative imageHematopoietic stem cell development and epigenetics
Through large-scale screening of mutants with abnormal red blood cell differentiation, the lab found that the histone demethylase LSD1 plays an important role in the development of hematopoietic stem cells themselves. It is now investigating the underlying mechanism.
*Illustrative imageMechanisms of action of antioxidant foods
Using whole animals, the lab investigates the molecular mechanisms behind the antioxidant effects of food components such as spices, soybeans, and lactic acid bacteria. Most acted through the Nrf2 pathway, but some components did not, and the lab expects this to lead to the discovery of new antioxidant pathways.
*Illustrative imageThe Nrf2 pathway and stress defense
The lab studies how the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, a defense mechanism against stress and toxic substances, can sense such a diverse range of agents and how it activates groups of defense genes. It has collected mutants with abnormal stress responses and is currently analyzing their relationship to the causative genes.
*Illustrative imageNon-mammalian models of human disease
Large-scale genome analyses are revealing groups of genes linked to rare intractable diseases. The lab takes part in a project that tests, in non-mammalian animals such as zebrafish, whether these genes could become targets for drug discovery or diagnosis.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Molecular Developmental Biology Lab consist of faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and support staff.As of 2025
- ProfessorMakoto Kobayashi
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: “Carleisha Hanns checks the tanks ( )” USFWS/Southeast / Public domain (cropped)
- Hematopoietic stem cell development and epigenetics: “A lateral view 4 days post fertilisation zebrafish brain” Jay Patel / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Mechanisms of action of antioxidant foods: “Bumbu dan Rempah - rempah” Galeri ega / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The Nrf2 pathway and stress defense: “Aquarias Danio rerio-science institute 01” real name: Karol Głąb pl.wiki: Karol007 commons: Karol007 kamikaze007 (at) tlen.pl / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Non-mammalian models of human disease: “Emerging Model Organisms 2” Bob Goldstein / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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