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Genome-Chromosome Function Lab
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The lab explores how DNA recombination keeps the genome stable.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling the mechanisms of genome stability and diversity
The Genome-Chromosome Function Lab studies the mechanisms that generate the stability and diversity of genes, chromosomes, and DNA.
Focusing on homologous recombination, an exchange reaction between DNA molecules, the lab examines the repair of DNA damage and the segregation of chromosomes in meiosis, the cell division that produces eggs and sperm.
The lab believes this research will contribute to understanding cancer caused by genome instability, and miscarriage caused by aneuploidy in eggs and sperm.
To clarify the molecular mechanisms of recombination and its functions in cells, the lab uses baker's yeast.
Key terms
- Homologous recombination
- A reaction in which the paternal and maternal copies of the same chromosome are cut, exchanged, and rejoined. It also works in repairing DNA damage
- Meiosis
- A special cell division used to make eggs and sperm. Haploid cells are produced from a diploid cell
- Aneuploid
- A cell with too many or too few chromosomes. In humans, it causes disease and miscarriage
NewsLab news
A mini-review paper on recombination intermediates of human RAD51 was published in eLife
A paper by a doctoral student on the post-translational processing of Mei5 was published in Genes to Cells
A paper on the role of RPA at checkpoints was published in Scientific Reports
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to elucidate the mechanisms that generate the stability and diversity of genes, chromosomes, and DNA. Centered on homologous recombination, an exchange reaction between DNA molecules, it studies DNA repair in mitosis and chromosome segregation in meiosis.
*Illustrative imageHomologous recombination repairs DNA damage
In mitosis, homologous recombination works to repair DNA damage. The lab aims to elucidate at the molecular level the formation and function of the helical structure that Rad51 protein forms on single-stranded DNA, which is generated when the ends of broken DNA are resected.
*Illustrative imageRecombination in meiosis
In meiosis, homologous recombination creates physical connections between homologous chromosomes. The lab aims to clarify the mechanism of the reaction that searches for a homologous DNA strand, which requires Dmc1, specific to meiosis, in addition to Rad51 found in somatic cells.
*Illustrative imageGenome instability, cancer, and aging
When errors occur in the mechanisms that keep the genome stable, such as recombination, the genome becomes unstable, which causes cancer and aging. The familial breast cancer gene Brca1/2 is known to act in homologous recombination, and Wrn1, the causative gene of progeria, in the regulation of recombination.
*Illustrative imageChromosome segregation errors, miscarriage, and infertility
If chromosome segregation goes wrong in meiosis, the number of chromosomes in eggs and sperm changes, causing miscarriage and infertility. Crossover recombination is essential for correctly separating homologous chromosomes, and it works together with sister chromatid cohesion and the monopolar kinetochore structure.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members are faculty, project researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, short-term international students, visiting researchers, and technical and administrative assistants.As of 2025
- ProfessorAkira Shinohara
- Associate ProfessorAsako Furukohri
- Assistant ProfessorMasaru Ito
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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: “Independent assortment” Christinelmiller / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Homologous recombination repairs DNA damage: “DNA Repair” Tom Ellenberger, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. / Public domain (cropped)
- Recombination in meiosis: “Synapsis and Crossing Over with Labels” Christinelmiller / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Genome instability, cancer, and aging: “Breast cancer cell (2)” Unknown photographer / Public domain (cropped)
- Chromosome segregation errors, miscarriage, and infertility: “Dr Indira Ganeshan during infertility procedure” Fertilityexpertdelhi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Interdisciplinary Group (Nuclear Function) Lab): “Yeast cells in wet mount of culture” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Chromosome Structure and Function Lab): “Human karyotype (248 27) Human karyotype” Doc. RNDr. Josef Reischig, CSc. / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biological Regulation Lab): “Fluorescence.microscope1” Bioguy10 / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Developmental Biology Lab): “Confocal Microscope” Mark from Edinburgh, United Kingdom / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
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