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Laboratory for Molecular Biophysics
Etsuko MUTO
Laboratory Head
Etsuko MUTO (Ph.D.)
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Research Areas

In neuronal axons, transport of vesicles is mediated by motor proteins such as kinesin and dynein. Our recent results have revealed that microtubules, which have been previously considered as merely a passive track for kinesin, are not actually passive: during the movement of kinesin, microtubules dynamically change their structure over a long range of microns in length. The result implicates a possibility that the state transition of microtubules may play an important role in the mechanism of motility. Our research goal is to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the state transition of microtubules, and elucidate how it is involved in the motility of motor proteins.

Research Subject

  1. Molecular analysis of tubulin structure
  2. Electrodynamic properties of microtubules
  3. Analysis of the stochastic motion of molecules using single molecule imaging technique

Related links

  1. RIKEN Brain Science Institute Website_Laboratories PageNew Window
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RIKEN RESEARCH

June 04, 2010
Making the right contacts to get ahead
A set of mutant yeast strains allows researchers to identify structural elements that help motor proteins to get moving New Window

List of Selected Publications

  1. Uchimura, S., Oguchi, Y., Hachikubo, Y., Ishiwata, S., and Muto, E.:
    "Key residues on microtubule responsible for activation of kinesin ATPase."
    EMBO. J., 29, 1167-1175, (2010).
  2. Minoura, I., Katayama, E., Sekimoto, K., and Muto, E.:
    "One-dimensional Brownian motion of charged nanoparticles along microtubules: A model system for weak binding interactions."
    Biophys J., 98, 1589-1597, (2010).
  3. Uchimura, S., Oguchi, Y., Katsuki, M., Usui, T., Osada, H., Nikawa, J-I., Ishiwata, S., and Muto, E.:
    "Identification of a strong binding site for kinesin on the microtubule using mutant analysis of tubulin."
    EMBO. J., 25, 5932-5941 (2006).
  4. Minoura, I., and Muto, E.:
    "Dielectric measurement of individual microtubules using the electroorientation method."
    Biophys J., 90, 3739-3748 (2006).
  5. Muto, E., Sakai, H., and Kaseda, K.:
    "Long range cooperative binding of kinesin to a microtubule in the presence of ATP"
    J. Cell Biol., 168, 691-696 (2005).

Members

Principal Investigator

Etsuko MUTO
Laboratory Head

Members

Itsushi MINOURA
Research Scientist
Seiichi UCHIMURA
Research Scientist
Hiroko TAKAZAKI
Research Scientist
Tsukasa MAKINO
Research Scientist
Yoshihiko YAMAKITA
Research Scientist
Rie AYUKAWA
Technical Staff I
Kiyoko YAMADA
Assistant
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