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To Lab
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A lab aiming to revolutionize the world of plants through epigenetics.
AboutAbout the lab
Changing how genes work without changing the DNA sequence
The To Lab studies epigenetics, the mechanisms that regulate gene activity without changes to the DNA sequence.
Using plants and fission yeast as materials, the lab investigates how organisms distinguish genes from harmful sequences within the genome.
It also seeks to clarify how such modifications are passed on to the next generation and what environmental fluctuations do to the epigenome.
Building on the results of basic research, the lab is also taking on the development of technologies for deliberately rewriting the epigenome.
Key terms
- Epigenetics
- The mechanisms that switch gene function on and off without changing the DNA sequence
- DNA methylation
- The attachment of small chemical tags to DNA. A representative modification that influences gene function
- Transposon
- A sequence that moves around within the genome. If its activity is not suppressed, it can harm the organism
ResearchResearch themes
Using plants and fission yeast as experimental materials, the lab studies epigenetics, a fundamental mechanism governing many biological events, from both basic and applied perspectives. It is also taking on the development of technologies for deliberately rewriting the epigenome.
*Illustrative imageHow genes are distinguished from harmful sequences
Organisms detect harmful sequences hidden in the genome, such as transposons, and suppress their expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Focusing on how epigenome modifications are established in plants, the lab seeks to uncover the secrets of this process.
*Illustrative imageMethylation inside genes
DNA methylation within the coding regions of genes, unlike typical DNA methylation, does not silence genes. The lab is taking on the elucidation of this phenomenon, which has been found in many eukaryotes but whose function remains unknown.
*Illustrative imageEnvironment and epigenetics
DNA methylation and histone modifications are deeply involved in the processes by which organisms alter gene function and metabolism in response to environmental change. The lab aims to clarify how environmental change affects the epigenome and the behavior of the genome.
*Illustrative imageDeveloping epigenome editing technology
Epigenome editing is a technology that activates or represses genes by manipulating methylation and histone modifications without changing the DNA base sequence. The lab is developing it with the aim of applying it to modifying plant functions and treating human diseases.
MembersFaculty
The members of the To Lab consist of faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, researchers, and technical support staff.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorTaiko ToPublications ↗
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RelatedLabs similar to To Lab
Osakabe LabSchool of Life Science and Technology, Department of Life Science and TechnologyGenetic engineering, genome editing, molecular biology, plan…
Kimura LabSchool of Life Science and Technology, Department of Life Science and TechnologyEpigenetics, cell nucleus, transcriptional regulation, and l…
Kajikawa LabSchool of Life Science and Technology, Department of Life Science and TechnologyTransposable elements, retrotransposons, genome evolution, e…
Itoh LabSchool of Life Science and Technology, Department of Life Science and TechnologyBioinformatics, genome informationThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
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: “Xenopus laevis nucleosome, Histone H3.3C (2) 1AOI” Luger K, Mäder AW, Richmond RK, Sargent DF, Richmond TJ / CC0 (cropped)
- How genes are distinguished from harmful sequences: “"Arabidopsis thaliana" in vitro” MatasNavickas / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Methylation inside genes: “Cytosine-3D-balls” Vesprcom / Public domain (cropped)
- Environment and epigenetics: “Water reflection of mountains and hut in a paddy field with blue sky in Vang Vieng, Laos” Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Developing epigenome editing technology: “Dimmer Light Switch” Paolomarco / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (刑部祐里子研究室): “Arabidopsis thaliana kz07” Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (木村研究室): “Nucleosome at enhancer with H3K122 acetylated” MethylC5 / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (梶川研究室): “Reverse transcriptase 1KLF” Thomas Splettstoesser (www.scistyle.com) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (伊藤研究室): “CSIRO ScienceImage 11313 The CSIRO GPU cluster at the data centre” division, CSIRO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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