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Matsushita Lab
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A lab that builds microscopes to observe molecules in frozen cells one molecule at a time.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding the mechanisms of life from the perspective of physics.
The Matsushita Lab develops microscopes that observe biomolecules one molecule at a time, and studies the mechanisms of life from a physics perspective.
The lab has developed its own correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) method, taking on the challenge of simultaneously observing the fine structures of membrane proteins and biological membranes.
Its motto is to build everything it needs by itself, from hardware to software.
The lab advances its research in collaboration with researchers who specialize in life sciences.
Key terms
- Membrane protein
- A protein that is attached to, or embedded in, the membrane that surrounds cells and other structures.
- Cryo-fluorescence microscope
- A microscope that keeps a frozen sample at low temperature and observes molecules labeled with fluorescent markers.
- Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM)
- A method of observing the same sample with both a light microscope and an electron microscope and matching what is seen in each.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab pursues research with broad interests in fields ranging from life science to quantum computing. Using its own correlative light and electron microscopy, it aims to observe the nanostructures of membrane proteins and biological membranes at the same time, and ultimately to discover new physical laws that describe life phenomena.
*Illustrative imageCryo-correlative light and electron microscopy
Building on the method of observing the same sample with both a light microscope and an electron microscope, the lab aims to capture molecules inside frozen cells one molecule at a time and match them to electron microscope images.
*Illustrative imageSingle-molecule observation
Some life phenomena cannot be understood from the average properties of many molecules alone. The lab has therefore developed methods to observe biomolecules such as proteins one molecule at a time.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of cryo-fluorescence microscopes
The lab has built cryo-fluorescence microscopes, which are used to observe frozen samples, over successive generations of students. Each student takes part in developing a microscope, from their undergraduate research through their master's thesis.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of cryo-objective lenses
The lab has developed a reflective objective lens that can be used at cryogenic temperatures, called a cryo-objective. It has also succeeded in designing the "ultimate cryo-objective lens."
MembersFaculty
The members of the Matsushita Lab consist of faculty, and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorMichio MatsushitaPublications ↗
- Program-Specific Associate ProfessorSatoru Fujiyoshi
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: “Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) ( )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy: “Correlative Microscopy System Shuttle & Find - MERLIN and Axio Observer ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Single-molecule observation: “Microscope à fluorescence (Ifremer )” Olivier Dugornay / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Development of cryo-fluorescence microscopes: “Women operating Cryo EM” Tina Saey / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Development of cryo-objective lenses: “Schwarzschild” Szőcs TamásTamasflex / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hatakeyama Lab): “Yeast membrane proteins” Masur / CC BY 2.5 (cropped)
- Related lab (Takamine Lab): “NuclideMap stitched 2” NuclideMap.PNG: The viewer derivative work: Neokortex (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nakamura Lab): “RIKEN Superconducting Ring Cyclotron P4213478” Kestrel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Kazama Lab): “Xenon-glow” Jurii / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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