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Cellular Physiology Lab
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The lab explores cellular signal transmission through the three-dimensional structures of membrane proteins.
AboutAbout the lab
An intellectual spiral across basic biology, drug discovery science, and medicine
The Cellular Physiology Lab studies the three-dimensional structures and functions of membrane proteins such as channels and G protein-coupled receptors, aiming to understand how signals are transmitted across membranes.
The lab performs high-resolution structural analysis by cryo-electron microscopy and develops the techniques needed for it, combining structural biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and computational science.
The lab revealed the high-resolution structure of innexin-6, a gap junction protein of the nematode, and proposed a gating model in which lipids enter the channel pore and block it.
The lab's website is that of the Cellular and Structural Physiology Institute (CeSPI), and its news section also lists the institute's seminars and other events.
Key terms
- Cryo-electron microscopy
- A type of microscopy in which proteins are trapped in thin ice and observed with an electron beam to determine their three-dimensional structures
- Gap junction
- A structure that directly connects the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. It is formed by a cluster of channels
- Membrane protein
- A protein located in the cell membrane. Channels and receptors are examples
NewsLab news
A paper on the structure of ATP11C was published in Journal of Biological Chemistry
A paper on generative protein design and porphyrin assembly was published in Small
A paper on the lysophosphatidic acid receptor was published in Journal of Structural Biology
ResearchResearch themes
Membrane proteins in the cell membrane, such as channels, pumps, and G protein-coupled receptors, are responsible for neurotransmission, communication between cells, and ion transport across membranes, and are involved in a wide range of biological phenomena and in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The lab performs structural analysis of membrane proteins using cryo-electron microscopy, and combines structural biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and computational science to understand how signals are transmitted across biological membranes.
*Illustrative imageStructure and gating of intercellular channels
The lab studies gap junction channels, which directly connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells, through high-resolution structural analysis by cryo-electron microscopy. Combining this with functional analysis and computational science, it works to elucidate how the channels open and close.
*Illustrative imageGating of channels with large pores
Using high-resolution structural studies, the lab investigates how pannexin opens and closes. Pannexin is a large pore channel whose large pore allows nucleotides, amino acids, and peptides to pass through. The lab also conducts functional analyses to confirm the gating control and collaborative research involving MD simulations.
*Illustrative imageThe role of gap junctions in morphogenesis
Focusing on the stripe patterns and spine shape of zebrafish, the lab investigates the role that cell-to-cell interactions and electrical signals mediated by gap junctions play in forming repeating structures. It uses methods such as analysis of transgenic lines and live imaging.
*Illustrative imageVoltage-gated sodium channels
Voltage-gated sodium channels are ion channels responsible for generating action potentials in the axons of neurons. The lab investigates the mechanism of sodium ion selectivity and the molecular mechanisms that regulate their activity, using crystal structure analysis and electrophysiological methods.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Cellular Physiology Lab consist of faculty members, technical assistants, and PhD, master's, and undergraduate students.
- ProfessorAtsunori Oshima
- Associate ProfessorMasakatsu Watanabe
- Assistant ProfessorKoya Sakuma
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: “CSIRO ScienceImage 2913 Operating an Electron Microscope” Textile and Fibre Technology, CSIRO / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Structure and gating of intercellular channels: “Cryo-EM structure of the human ether-a-go-go related K+ channel” A2-33 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Gating of channels with large pores: “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)
- The role of gap junctions in morphogenesis: “Zebrafish Scales ( )” Daniel Castranova, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH / Public domain (cropped)
- Voltage-gated sodium channels: “Voltage-gated Ion Channel” Tlunchman / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Modification and Regulation Lab): “VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette” Labrat879 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell-to-Cell Signaling Lab): “Plant micropropagation in laboratory” Viktor Husak / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Microbial Motility Lab): “Microbiology techniques 1” Luis Fernando Flores LAB / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Genetics Lab): “Culture vials of Drosophila melanogaster in Unifei” Mateus S. Figueiredo / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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