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Protein Crystallography Lab [Institute for Protein Research]
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The lab explores how life works through the three-dimensional structures of protein complexes.
AboutAbout the lab
Analyzing protein structures in their complex state to understand biological systems.
The lab is a structural biology lab that seeks to understand biological functions based on the three-dimensional structures of proteins.
While respecting the tradition of protein crystallography, the lab also uses NMR and cryo-electron microscopy as complementary methods.
Currently, it is studying the structures of proteins involved in photosynthesis and biological motility.
The lab is also a cooperating chair of the School of Science and the Graduate School of Science, and a cooperating division of the School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Engineering. It welcomes inquiries from students who wish to join the lab and about collaborative research.
Key terms
- Protein crystallography
- A scientific field that uses methods in which a purified protein is crystallized and its three-dimensional structure is examined.
- Cryo-electron microscopy
- A device and method that examines the three-dimensional structure of proteins and other samples by observing frozen specimens with an electron microscope.
- Dynein
- A giant biological molecular motor (a protein) that works on microtubules.
ResearchResearch themes
Proteins function by forming networks within living organisms. The lab crystallizes proteins in their complex state and analyzes their structures, aiming to understand biological systems with the keywords "photosynthesis," "molecular motors," and "biological supramolecular assemblies."
*Illustrative imageEnergy conversion and metabolic networks in photosynthesis
The lab crystallizes and determines the structures of membrane protein complexes in energy-converting membranes, aiming to elucidate how their functions arise in connection with the biological membrane. Based on crystal structures, it hopes to understand networks such as the one in which reducing power from the photosystem I complex is distributed to metabolic reactions via ferredoxin.
*Illustrative imageStructure of dynein, a giant molecular motor
Motor proteins generate movement by changing their three-dimensional structure according to their nucleotide state. Aiming to fully understand the motility of dynein, a motor protein that works on microtubules, the lab carries out crystal structure analysis of cytoplasmic dynein and axonemal dynein.
*Illustrative imageHigh-precision structural analysis of metalloproteins
For metalloproteins that have metals such as iron or copper as redox centers, the lab performs high-precision structural analysis using X-ray free-electron lasers and neutron structure analysis, while strictly controlling the redox state. It tackles problems that have made chemically rigorous analysis difficult, such as radiation damage and reduction caused by X-ray irradiation.
MembersFaculty
The members of the lab are faculty, researchers, administrative staff, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorGenji Kurisu
- Associate ProfessorAkihiro Kawamoto
- Project Associate ProfessorTakanori Nakane
- Project Associate ProfessorJian Yu
- Project Assistant ProfessorSoichiro Seki
- Project Assistant ProfessorCharoenwattanasatien Ratana
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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: “Helix electron density myoglobin 2nrl 17-32” Dcrjsr / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Energy conversion and metabolic networks in photosynthesis: “PhotosystemII” Neveu,Curtis / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Structure of dynein, a giant molecular motor: “Dynein phi particle process” U1133272 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- High-precision structural analysis of metalloproteins: “European XFEL DESY Beschleunigermodule 2” Dirtsc / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Functional Organic Chemistry Lab): “Schlenk filtration” Self / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nanophotonics Lab): “InVia Raman microscope - March 2008” theterrifictc / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Polymer Biotechnology Lab): “TOF mass spectrometer June2007” Mwillett4000 / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Precision Resource Chemistry Lab): “Kristallisierschale” MediaLab TH Köln / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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