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Molecular Cell Regulation Lab
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A lab that uncovers the control systems of cells through calcium-binding proteins.
AboutAbout the lab
Uncovering the control systems of animal cells, starting from proteins.
The Molecular Cell Regulation Lab uses cultured animal cells to study how proteins maintain cellular homeostasis and respond to the environment.
Focusing on calcium-binding proteins, the lab aims to elucidate protein-protein interaction networks and the control systems they form.
Diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders arise from the breakdown of the systems that control cells, including proliferation, motility, and survival and death.
By elucidating intracellular control mechanisms at the molecular level, the lab aims to apply its findings to identifying drug targets, developing early diagnostic markers, and analyzing food components that may help prevent disease.
Key terms
- ALG-2
- A protein that responds to calcium ions. This lab has been studying it.
- Apoptosis
- A form of cell death. ALG-2 was reported as a protein required for apoptosis in T cells.
- mTOR
- A key protein that responds to amino acids and growth factors to control cell growth.
NewsLab news
A paper by Associate Professor Takahara and colleagues was published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry
A first-author paper by a doctoral student was published
A paper by Professor Shibata and colleagues was published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
ResearchResearch themes
The lab works on several research topics to elucidate cellular responses in animal cells that are related to the onset of various diseases. Its two main pillars are studies of cell death and substance transport involving calcium-binding proteins, and studies of the mTOR pathway involved in nutrient response.
*Illustrative imageCell Death in Cancer and ALG-2
ALG-2 was first reported as a protein required for apoptosis in T cells. The lab found that ALG-2 acts on CDIP1, whose expression is increased by anticancer drugs, to activate the apoptotic pathway, and is now investigating its role in cancer.
*Illustrative imageTransport from the Endoplasmic Reticulum
The proteins that interact with ALG-2 in response to calcium ions include some that carry out transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. The lab analyzes how the interaction network of these proteins regulates this transport.
*Illustrative imageCalcium Signaling in the Endosomal Pathway
When the membranes of endosomes or lysosomes are damaged, the calcium ions inside leak out. Because ALG-2 and other proteins may be responsible for membrane repair and for determining the fate of organelles, the lab analyzes the mechanisms that read this calcium signal.
*Illustrative imageNutrient Response and Regulation of the mTOR Pathway
The lab investigates how the mTOR pathway, which responds to nutrients such as amino acids, is regulated, and how it is linked to calcium signaling. It has shown that basic amino acids promote the influx of calcium ions and are involved in the activation of mTORC1.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Molecular Cell Regulation Lab are faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, G30 program students, and a secretary.As of 2026
- ProfessorHideki Shibata
- Associate ProfessorTerunao Takahara
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: “Calmodulin 1CLL” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Cell Death in Cancer and ALG-2: “Apoptosis” Ltumanovskaya V. Nagibin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Transport from the Endoplasmic Reticulum: “Nucleus ER golgi ex” Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Magnus Manske. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Magnus Manske grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. / Public domain (cropped)
- Calcium Signaling in the Endosomal Pathway: “XBio illustration – Membrane Organelles” explorebiology / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Nutrient Response and Regulation of the mTOR Pathway: “Amino acids chart JPG” Biochemlife / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Animal Cell Function Lab): “Biochemistry student at work” Victoria Fomchenkova / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Biological Regulation Lab): “Electron microscope ISP” Yakovlev Viktor / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell Biochemistry Lab): “Alphafold structure model of pseudonajatoxin b” UniProt database / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Soil Biochemistry Lab): “Paddy fields in Dinajpur District 01” Kritzolina / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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