LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Biomolecular Dynamics and Function (D) Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab uses high-speed AFM to watch the movements of single molecules such as proteins as video.
AboutAbout the lab
Seeing the motion of single molecules.
The D Lab uses high-speed atomic force microscopy (high-speed AFM) to observe, at the nanoscale, how molecules such as proteins move in liquid.
Centered on developing instruments and analysis software, the lab works consistently from elucidating how proteins function to studying synthetic supramolecules and polymer films.
Since 2025, the lab has also started new research on creating "cyborg molecules," which fuse artificial molecules with proteins.
An internationally diverse team combines instrument development, experiments, analysis, and theory in its research.
Key terms
- High-speed atomic force microscopy
- A high-speed version of the microscope that traces a sample's surface with a fine tip to determine its shape. It can record the movements of molecules in liquid as video
- Supramolecule
- A large assembly formed when multiple molecules come together spontaneously through weak forces
- Self-assembly
- The spontaneous gathering of molecules into a defined structure without being assembled from the outside
NewsLab news
Collaborative paper on degrading cellulose-based hydrogels with light published in Carbohydrate Polymers
A doctoral student won a Poster Award at the area meeting of "Membrane Interface Biology Expanding from Autophagy"
A doctoral student won the Best Poster Award at the "Exchange Meeting between Companies and Doctoral Talent"
Collaborative paper on FliL, a flagellar motor protein, published in Molecular Microbiology (press release)
Collaborative paper clarifying the formation process of the secretion apparatus of Helicobacter pylori published in Nature Communications
ResearchResearch themes
Centered on developing high-speed atomic force microscopy (high-speed AFM) instruments and analysis techniques, the lab pursues measurement technology and its applications end to end. It works on elucidating how proteins function, the structure and mechanics of synthetic supramolecules and polymer films, and the creation of cyborg molecules.
*Illustrative imageDeveloping High-Speed AFM and Analysis Software
Proteins are too small for their structure and dynamics to be observed directly with an optical microscope. The lab improves the temporal and spatial resolution, among other aspects, of high-speed AFM, which can observe proteins in solution at the nanoscale, and also develops and releases its own software for analyzing the resulting movies.
*Illustrative imageExpanding High-Speed AFM Functions and Combined Measurements
By combining high-speed AFM with fluorescence microscopy, electrochemical measurement, and operations that pull or push molecules, the lab makes it possible to obtain chemical, electrical, and mechanical information along with shape. It has also established methods to measure the softness of proteins and cells.
*Illustrative imageWatching How Proteins Work, One Molecule at a Time
The lab captures F1-ATPase, membrane proteins, enzymes, and other molecules moving in solution one molecule at a time, and uses physics to clarify how changes in structure are linked to function so that proteins "work."
*Illustrative imageDynamics of Synthetic Supramolecules and Polymers
In collaboration with chemists and materials scientists, the lab analyzes the self-assembly processes and responses of artificially designed supramolecules and polymers, broadening their applications in materials science and nanotechnology.
MembersFaculty
The members of the D Lab are faculty, researchers, technical assistants, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakayuki Uchihashi
- LecturerMidori Murakami
- Assistant ProfessorKenta Tamaki
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Biomolecular Dynamics and Function (D) Lab
Computational Biophysics (B) LabSchool of Science, Department of PhysicsBiomolecular complexes, structured assemblies of proteins an…
Cellular Information Biophysics (K) LabSchool of Science, Department of PhysicsBiological phenomena involve information transmission and pr…
Photobioenergetics (G) LabSchool of Science, Department of PhysicsPhotosynthesis is the Earth's largest biological energy conv…
Optical Solid-State Physics (O) LabSchool of Science, Department of PhysicsDirect observation of electronic states in solids using phot…The 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: “Near-field probing” Clearscience / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Developing High-Speed AFM and Analysis Software: “AFM-IR & s‑SNOM NT-MDT microscope” AAMonitor96 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Expanding High-Speed AFM Functions and Combined Measurements: “Microscope à fluorescence (Ifremer )” Olivier Dugornay / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Watching How Proteins Work, One Molecule at a Time: “Bovine F1-ATPase inhibited by DCCD (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide) PDB 1e79” Emw / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Dynamics of Synthetic Supramolecules and Polymers: “Ferroelectric liquid crystal image from a polarizing microscope” Ingo Dierking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Computational Biophysics (B) Lab): “CSIRO ScienceImage 294 Molecular Model of HIV Protein” division, CSIRO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cellular Information Biophysics (K) Lab): “Predicted tertiary structure of ZNF568, which is 45.20% identical to the ZNF337 protein sequence. Created using SWISS-MODEL” Saure011 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Photobioenergetics (G) Lab): “Standoff Laser Spectroscopy System ( )” Oak Ridge National Laboratory / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Optical Solid-State Physics (O) Lab): “Cold atoms experiment 02” Tomasz Kawalec / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.