Laboratory for Comprehensive Bioimaging

Cells can be thought of as complex systems in a dynamic equilibrium between multiple states that fluctuate stochastically. Our aim is to construct a numerical model that describes the common mechanisms regulating high-order function in complex biological systems. To understand the behavior of these systems, it is necessary to observe state transitions while at the same time quantitatively describing their dynamics. We are developing novel imaging systems that combine three major techniques to achieve this aim: 1) imaging systems which measure protein position, dynamics and the surrounding environment , 2) novel cell culture systems which can control and perturb the chemical/mechanical environment, and 3) custom designed biochemical/inorganic sensors that can visualize the status of the cell. The developed techniques will provide significant insight on the regulation of tissues, immunity, metabolism and aging by understanding the fundamental mechanisms that give rise to these disparate and complex systems. In turn, the information gained will significantly improve our ability to diagnose and treat diseases and advance the design of new medicines.

Research Subjects

• Development of linear and non-linear bio-optical measurement technologies
• Development of high-throughput microscopy
• iPS cell research by using the above technologies
• Deep, non-invasive in vivo imaging by novel NIR optics
• Development of novel fluorescent protein probes

Publications

1. Sayaka Higuchi, Qingsong Lin, Jigang Wang, Teck Kwang Lim,Shashikant B. Joshi, Ganesh Srinivasan Anand, Maxey C.M. Chung, Michael P. Sheetz, Hideaki Fujita:
   "Heart extracellular matrix supports cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells."
   J Biosci Bioeng, 115(3), 320-5 (Mar. 2013)
2. Eiji Nagamori, Hideaki Fujita, Kazunori Shimizu, Kenro Tokuhiro, Nobuhiro Ishida, Haruo Takahashi:
   "Fed-batch system for cultivating genetically engineered yeast that produces lactic acid via the fermentative promoter."
   J Biosci Bioeng, 115(2), 193-5 (Feb. 2013)
3. Qiang Ma, Yuko Nakane, Yuki Mori, Miyuki Hasegawa, Yoshichika Yoshioka, Tomonobu M.Watanabe, Kohsuke Gonda, Noriaki Ohuchi, Takashi Jin:
   "Multilayered, core/shell nanoprobes based on magnetic ferric oxide particles and quantum dots for multimodality imaging of breast cancer tumors. "
   Biomaterials, 33(33), 8486-94 (Nov. 2012)
4. Tomonobu M. Watanabe, Yoshikazu Tsukasaki, Hideaki Fujita, Taro Ichimura, Tatsuya Saitoh, Shizuo Akira, Toshio Yanagida:
   "Distinct modulated pupil function system for real-time imaging of living cells."
   PLoS One, 7(9), e44028 (Sep. 2012)
5. Taro Ichimura, Hideaki Fujita, Keiko Yoshizawa, Tomonobu M.Watanabe:
   "Engineering strain-sensitive yellow fluorescent protein."
   Chemical Communications, 48(63), 7871-3 (Aug. 2012)
6. Keiko Kawauchi, Wee Wee Tan, Keigo Araki, Farhana Binte Abu Bakar, Minsoo Kim, Hideaki Fujita, Hiroaki Hirata, Yasuhiro Sawada:
   "p130Cas-dependent actin remodelling regulates myogenic differentiation."
   Biochem J., 445(3), 323-332 (Aug. 2012)
7. Hayashi Yamamoto, Soichiro Kakuta, Tomonobu M.Watanabe, Akira Kitamura, Takayuki Sekito, Chika Kondo-Kakuta, Rie Ichikawa, Masataka Kinjo, Yoshinori Ohsumi:
   "Atg9 vesicles are an important membrane source during early steps of autophagosome formation."
   Journal of Cell Biology. 198(2), 219-33 (Jul. 2012)
8. Taka-aki Yano, Taro Ichimura, Shota Kuwahara, Prabhat Verma, and Satoshi Kawata:
   "Subnanometric stabilization of plasmon-enhanced optical microscopy."
   Nanotechnology, 23(20), 205503 (May, 2012)
9. Tomonobu M.Watanabe, Sayaka Higuchi, Keiko Kawauchi, Yoshikazu Tsukasaki, Taro Ichimura, Hideaki Fujita:
   "Chromatin plasticity as a differentiation index during muscle differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts."
   Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 418(4), 742-747 (Feb. 2012)
10. Hideaki Fujita, Van Thanh Dau, Kazunori Shimizu, Ranko Hatsuda, Susumu Sugiyama, Eiji Nagamori:
    "Designing of a Si-MEMS device with an integrated skeletal muscle cell-based bio-actuator."
    Biomed Microdevices. 13, 123-129 (Feb. 2011)