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Molecular Microbiology Lab
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A lab that investigates cell lifespan and signal transduction using yeast and E. coli.
AboutAbout the lab
Using microbes as models to uncover universal life phenomena
The Molecular Microbiology Lab (Aiba Lab) uses microbes as models to gain a deep understanding of universal life phenomena at the molecular and cellular levels.
Using yeast, the lab aims to identify the factors involved in determining cell lifespan.
Using E. coli, the lab has worked out how two-component systems allow cells to sense environmental changes and relay that information inside the cell, and it has extended this research to cyanobacteria and fission yeast.
Although the lab belongs to the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, it also takes part in education for the School of Agricultural Sciences, and students from the Department of Applied Biosciences who are writing their graduation theses are assigned to it.
Key terms
- Chronological lifespan
- A measure of lifespan based on how long cells that are not dividing can stay alive
- Two-component system
- An information-processing mechanism by which cells receive environmental signals and relay them inside the cell. It is widely used across the living world
- Fission yeast
- A type of yeast that multiplies by dividing in two. This lab mainly uses it for lifespan research
NewsLab news
A review summarizing the response to nutrient depletion in fission yeast has been accepted for publication
A student received the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at Pombe2025, the International Fission Yeast Meeting
A student received the Judges' Special Award at the GTR Retreat 2025
A paper on the development of Pma1 inhibitors and the analysis of how Pma1 extends cell lifespan has been accepted
A paper showing that Ecl1, an inhibitor of TORC1, is regulated by phosphorylation has been accepted
ResearchResearch themes
The Aiba Lab aims to gain a deep understanding of universal life phenomena at the molecular and cellular levels, using microbes as models. Its research centers on two topics: how cell lifespan is determined, and the two-component systems through which cells receive environmental signals and relay them inside the cell.
*Illustrative imageMechanisms controlling cell lifespan
To understand how cell lifespan is determined, the lab mainly uses fission yeast to search for factors involved in chronological lifespan, the length of time that non-dividing cells survive, and aims to clarify how those factors function.
*Illustrative imageSignal transduction by two-component systems
Using E. coli, the lab clarified the operating principles of two-component systems, which allow cells to receive environmental signals and relay them inside the cell. It has since extended this research to cyanobacteria and fission yeast.
MembersFaculty
- ProfessorHirofumi Aiba
- Assistant ProfessorHokuto Ohtsuka
- Assistant ProfessorTakafumi Shimasaki
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: “Horizontal laboratory microbiology shaker Innova 4330-inside” real name: Matylda Sęk pl.wiki: Cygaretka commons: Cygaretka / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Mechanisms controlling cell lifespan: “Budding yeasts and yeast cells in KOH mount of sputum” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Signal transduction by two-component systems: “E.coli plate dark background” LadaSy / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Integrative Plant Physiology Lab): “"Arabidopsis thaliana" in vitro” MatasNavickas / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Animal Cell Physiology Lab): “US Navy 111215-N-PO203-033 Lt. Denis Colomb, principal investigator with Navy Experimental Diving Unit, prepares cell cultures” U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Food Neuroscience Lab): “Man using microscope in laboratory LCCN” Harris & Ewing, photographer / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Glycoscience Lab): “Bureau of Chemistry Carbohydrate Laboratory - DPLA - 0ba4f3b22c981b59794a8e8032bc4fa8” United States. Food and Drug Administration / Public domain (cropped)
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