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Kinbara Lab
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A lab that uses organic synthesis to create molecules with functions never seen before.
AboutAbout the lab
Learning from biomolecules to create functions that did not exist.
The Kinbara Lab focuses on the structures and functions of biomolecules and develops new substances with functions never seen before.
Living organisms are made up of complex functional biomolecules, which show the ultimate form that organic chemistry can reach.
Using synthetic organic chemistry as its main tool, the lab creates molecules that transport substances through cell membranes, molecules that make the inside of cells glow so that it can be seen, and more.
Since fiscal 2024, the lab has also taken part in the Research Center for Autonomous Systems Materialogy, Institute of Integrated Research.
Key terms
- Lipid bilayer
- The membrane that forms the cell membrane, in which lipid molecules are arranged in two layers facing each other.
- Ion channel
- A structure in the cell membrane that serves as a pathway for ions and other substances to pass between the inside and outside of the cell.
- Fluorescent probe
- A molecule that gathers at a target location and glows, making the inside of a cell visible.
NewsLab news
Doctoral student wins the Materials and Information Outstanding Researcher Award
Doctoral student's paper published in J. Phys. Chem. B
Paper by Project Assistant Professor Sugai et al. published in ACS Omega
Paper by Assistant Professor Kohata published in ChemistryOpen
Project Associate Professor Terayama wins the Young Scientists' Award in the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
ResearchResearch themes
Living organisms are made up of complex functional biomolecules, which show the ultimate form that organic chemistry can reach. Focusing on the structures and functions of such biomolecules, the lab takes on the challenge of developing new substances with functions and properties never seen before, using synthetic organic chemistry as its main tool.
*Illustrative imageGiving functions to lipid bilayers
The lab made molecules in which hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts are linked alternately, and found that they transport substances within lipid bilayers like biological ion channels. It has also built many systems that self-assemble in response to ligands or external stimuli and function as channels.
*Illustrative imageMaking PEG of uniform length
The lab structured polyethylene glycol, a polymer used as a biocompatible material, into polygonal shapes of uniform length. This brings out physical properties not seen in ordinary PEG, as well as a function that stabilizes proteins.
*Illustrative imageProbes that glow according to viscosity
Using organic molecules that start to fluoresce when their structure changes, the lab developed a water-soluble fluorescent probe that emits light in highly viscous environments. The molecule accumulates in a certain organelle inside cells and reveals cell structures and functions that were previously unknown.
*Illustrative imageArtificial systems that change over time
In an artificial system that mimics nonequilibrium reactions in living organisms, the lab built a system that temporarily generates surfactants that interact with biomolecules. This is a first step toward next-generation functional supramolecular materials that can regulate biological phenomena over time.
MembersFaculty
Members of the Kinbara Lab are faculty members, project specialists, administrative assistants, technical support staff, and students in the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs.As of 2026
- ProfessorKazushi KinbaraPublications ↗
- Project Associate ProfessorKei TerayamaPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorAi KohataPublications ↗
- Project Assistant ProfessorSachika Sugai
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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: “Lipid Bilayer” US gov / Public domain (cropped)
- Giving functions to lipid bilayers: “Two-pore domain potassium channel K2P3 PDB-6rv3” Deposition authors: Rodstrom, K.E.J., Pike, A.C.W., Zhang, W., Quigley, A., Speedman, D., Mukhopadhyay, S.M.M., Shrestha, L., Chalk, R., Venkaya, S., Bushell, S.R., Tessitore, A., Burgess-Brown, N., Arrowsmith, C.H., Edwards, A.M., Bountra, C., Carpenter, E.P., Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC); Visualization author: Synpath / CC0 (cropped)
- Making PEG of uniform length: “Polyethylene glycol 4000” Anypodetos / CC0 (cropped)
- Probes that glow according to viscosity: “Confocal micrograph of stained HeLa” Dedyseptiadi7 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Artificial systems that change over time: “Belousov Zhabotinsky reaction ( )” Stephen Morris from Toronto, Canada / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (上野研究室): “Flu Self Assembly ( )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (小畠・三重研究室): “1RRX pdb group” Christopher King / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (藤枝研究室): “Interference Colors from a Thin polymer Film” Tafaltens / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (森俊明研究室): “Quartz resonators with front and back electrodes” Beaker / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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