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Plant Molecular Physiology Lab
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The lab explores the mechanisms of the genes and proteins by which plants respond to light.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling plants' remarkable adaptability at the molecular level
The Plant Molecular Physiology Lab (Matsushita Lab) studies the molecular basis of plants' remarkable ability to adapt to their environment.
Its focus includes genome-wide regulation of gene expression in response to environmental stimuli, diversification of proteins and changes in their subcellular localization, and long-distance signaling among cells, tissues, and organs.
The lab combines approaches from genomics, molecular genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, and plant physiology.
Key terms
- Transcription start site
- The position within a gene where synthesis of mRNA begins
- Phytochrome
- A light-receiving protein that plants use to sense the color and intensity of light
- Stomata
- Tiny pores on the leaf surface that exchange gases between the plant and the atmosphere
ResearchResearch themes
Focusing on genome-wide regulation of gene expression in response to environmental stimuli, diversification of the proteome, changes in the subcellular localization of proteins, and long-distance signaling, the lab conducts research at the levels of genes, proteins, and cells.
*Illustrative imageLight Control of Transcription Start Sites
The lab found that the photoreceptor phytochrome changes the transcription start sites of more than 2,000 genes and alters the subcellular localization of many proteins in response to light.
*Illustrative imageHow Stomata Form in Leaves
Using Arabidopsis thaliana, the lab investigates how stomata in leaves are formed. This work is getting at how cell polarity is established in plants.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Plant Molecular Physiology Lab are faculty, doctoral and master's students, fourth-year undergraduates, and academic, technical, and administrative assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorTomonao Matsushita
- LecturerTomoo Shimada
- LecturerKazumasa Shirai
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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: “Stomata of Tradescantia spathacea leaves” Trương Minh Khải / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Light Control of Transcription Start Sites: “Physcomitrella knockout mutants” Ralf_Reski / CC BY 1.0 (cropped)
- How Stomata Form in Leaves: “Stomata 12 Septmeber 2018” Willmage uploader / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Kyoto University Institute for Chemical Research, Biomolecular Information Lab): “Arabidopsis halleri flower (01)” Andrea Moro / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plant Molecular Genetics Lab (comprising the Inagaki, Takenaka, and Tsugeki Groups)): “Confocal microscopy with spectral imaging- Five-color observation of organelles in Marchantia polymorpha thallus cells ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Notaguchi Lab): “Grafting techniques in Uzbekistan” Shuhrataxmedov / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Developmental Genome Science / Animal Embryology Lab): “Siphon exhalant d'ascidie (Ciona intestinalis) (Ifremer )” Olivier Dugornay / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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