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Sugiyama Lab
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A lab that uses small-angle neutron scattering to explore the structure and dynamics of proteins.
AboutAbout the lab
Seeing the shape and motion of proteins with neutrons
The Sugiyama Lab uses neutrons to study the structure and dynamics of proteins in solution.
Founded in 2011, it has become one of the leading labs in the world in small-angle neutron scattering.
Starting from small-angle neutron scattering, it has expanded its research to focus on clock proteins.
It is a cooperating chair of Physics I (Biomolecular Structure) in the Graduate School of Science, and is located at the Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science (Kumatori).
Key terms
- Small-angle neutron scattering
- A method that irradiates a material with neutrons and examines nanometer-scale shapes from how the neutrons are slightly deflected and scattered
- Deuteration
- Replacing hydrogen in a molecule with deuterium, which has a different mass. It changes how the molecule appears to neutrons
- Neutron spin echo spectroscopy
- A method that uses changes in the direction of the neutron spin to measure the very slow motions of molecules
ResearchResearch themes
The lab conducts research across a wide range of neutron-related fields, centered on small-angle neutron scattering, to study the structure and dynamics of proteins in solution. It is also developing new measurement methods and instruments.
*Illustrative imageSEC-SANS: measuring with aggregates removed
Aggregates are the great enemy of small-angle scattering from solutions. To remove them, the lab, together with groups including one from the Institute for Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo, introduced SEC-SANS at a neutron instrument. It connects a size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) system and measures samples immediately after purification.
*Illustrative imageAUC-SAS: combined with analytical ultracentrifugation
To obtain the scattering of the target molecule even from solutions in which aggregates remain or multiple molecules coexist, the lab developed "AUC-SAS," a method that separates small-angle scattering data by component using weight fractions obtained from analytical ultracentrifugation.
*Illustrative imageSubunit exchange in proteins
Taking advantage of neutrons' ability to distinguish deuterium from hydrogen, the lab mixed deuterated proteins with ordinary proteins and measured the change in scattering intensity. This led to the discovery that protein complexes exchange subunits with one another.
*Illustrative imageObserving the internal motions of proteins
The lab showed that neutron spin echo spectroscopy can observe the internal motions of proteins in solution without labeling. To handle more complex proteins, it is developing an analysis method combined with molecular dynamics calculations.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Sugiyama Lab are faculty, students, and technical and administrative staff.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasaaki Sugiyama
- Project ProfessorReiko Urade
- Assistant ProfessorKen Morishima
- Assistant ProfessorMasahiro Shimizu
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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: “Neutrons” Lsbblsbb / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- SEC-SANS: measuring with aggregates removed: “SANS LS” Mitsuhiro Shibayama / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- AUC-SAS: combined with analytical ultracentrifugation: “Ultracentrifuge” Nmnogueira at English Wikipedia (Original text: Nuno Nogueira (Nmnogueira)) / CC BY-SA 2.5 (cropped)
- Subunit exchange in proteins: “Cryo-EM image of C. thermophilum lysate” Pkastrit / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Observing the internal motions of proteins: “Neutron Science, summer students ( )” National Institute of Standards and Technology / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nuclear Radiation Physics Lab): “Sp8-3972” Nnn / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nuclear and Hadron Lab): “J-PARC Main Ring accelerator RF Cavity” Kestrel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Metal Phase Science Lab): “Researcher using diamond anvil cell” Allison Pease, University of Michigan, USA / CC BY-SA 2.5 (cropped)
- Related lab (Active Matter Lab): “DNA Origami Triangular” Matthias A. Fenner / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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