Laboratories
Laboratory for Cell Function Dynamics
Atsushi MIYAWAKI
Laboratory Head
Atsushi MIYAWAKI
(M.D., Ph.D.)
mail

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Research Areas

"Why bio-imaging, i.e. real time fluorescence imaging?" Currently, this is a topic of great interest in the bioscience community. Many molecules involved in signal transduction have been identified, and the hierarchy among those molecules has also been elucidated. It is not uncommon to see a signal transduction diagram in which arrows are used to link molecules to show enzyme reactions and intermolecular interactions. To obtain a further understanding of a signal transduction system, however, the diagram must contain the three axes in space as well as a fourth dimension, time, because all events are controlled ingeniously in space and time. Since the isolation of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the bioluminescent jellyfish in 1992 and later with its relatives, researchers have been awaiting the development of a tool, which enables the direct visualization of biological functions. This has been increasingly enhanced by the marriage of GFP with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) or fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS), and is further expanded upon by the need for "post-genomic analyses." It is not my intent to discourage the trend seeking the visualization of biological function. I would like to propose that it is time to evaluate the true asset of "bio-imaging" for its potential and limitations in order to utilize and truly benefit from this novel technique.

Research Subject

  1. Development of a new microscopy system
  2. Development of fluorescent indicators for various cellular events using novel fluorescent protein
  3. Local and physiological Ca2+ imaging

Related links

  1. RIKEN Brain Science Institute Website_Laboratories PageNew Window
  2. Individual Website Laboratory PageNew Window

Press release

August 30, 2011
New chemical reagent turns mouse brain transparent
Combined with fluorescence labeling, new approach produces 3D images at unprecedented depth and levels of spatial detail
January 25 ,2011
Effects of anti-cancer drugs reassessed using fluorescence imaging technology
November 17, 2009
Embryogenesis propagation and differentiation patterns of live fish exposed to full view
December 20, 2008
Differential silhouetting of the cell cycle specific to either S/G2/M a new visualizing technology of the cellular proliferation process
July 12, 2008
Incorporating a novel fluorescence protein to develop a high sensitivity membrane potential probe
June 24, 2008
Elucidating the molecular mechanism of photochromism of a fluorescent protein 'Drompa' with NMR analysis of its dark-structure, instead of X-ray structural analysis
February 8, 2008
Color-coded mouse genes reveal hidden story on cell cycleNew Window

RIKEN RESEARCH

December 09, 2011
'Mind-readers' get a clearer view
A treatment that renders brain tissue transparent allows neuroscientists to visualize neural circuitry at once-unattainable depthsNew Window
January 29, 2010
A window to embryonic development
Cell-cycle progression in fish embryos can now be tracked visually in three dimensionsNew Window
April 24, 2009
The color and the shape
A new twist on a fluorescence-based method for monitoring cell division provides scientists with information about accompanying changes in cell morphologyNew Window

List of Selected Publications

  1. Miyawaki A.:
    " Proteins on the move: insights gained from fluorescent protein technologies."
    Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol.,12 (10): 656-668 (2011).
  2. Mori R, Ikematsu K, Kitaguchi T, Kim SE, Okamoto M, Chiba T, Miyawaki A, Shimokawa I, and Tsuboi T.:
    " Release of TNF-α from macrophages is mediated by small GTPase Rab37"
    Eur J Immunol (2011)
  3. Katayama H, Kogure T, Mizushima N, Yoshimori T, Miyawaki A.:
    " Dimerization of MT1-MMP during cellular invasion detected by flourescence resonance energy transfer"
    Biochem J (2011)
  4. Katayama H, Kogure T, Mizushima N, Yoshimori T, and Miyawaki A.:
    " A sensitive and quantitative technique for detecting autophagic events based on lysosomal delivery"
    Chem Biol, 18(8), 1042-52 (2011)
  5. Hama H, Kurokawa H, Kawano H, Ando R, Shimogori T, Noda H, Fukami K, Sakaue-Sawano A, and Miyawaki A.:
    " Scale: a chemical approach for fluorescence imaging and reconstruction of transparent mouse brain"
    Nat Neurosci (2011)
  6. Jovic A, Wade SM, Miyawaki A, Neubig RR, Linderman JJ, and Takayama S.:
    " Hi-Fi transmission of periodic signals amid cell-to-cell variability"
    Mol Biosyst, 7(7), 2238-44 (2011)
  7. Harada T, Matsuishi K, Oishi Y, Isobe K, Suda A, Kawan H, Mizuno H, Miyawaki A, Midorikawa K, and Kannari F.:
    " Temporal control of local plasmon distribution on Au nanocrosses by ultra-broadband femtosecond laser pulses and its application for selective two-photon excitation of multiple fluorophores"
    Opt Express, 19(14), 13618-27 (2011)
  8. Nakajima Y, Kuranaga E, Sugimura K, Miyawaki A, and Miura M.:
    " Nonautonomous apoptosis is triggered by local cell cycle progression during epithelial replacement in Drosophila"
    Mol Cell Biol, 31(12), 2499-512 (2011)
  9. Miyawaki A.:
    " Development of probes for cellular functions using fluorescent proteins and fluorescence resonance energy transfer"
    Annu Rev Biochem, 80, 357-73 (2011)
  10. Hanada Y, Sugioka K, Shihira-Ishikawa I, Kawano H, Miyawaki A, and Midorikawa K.:
    " 3D microfluidic chips with integrated functional microelements fabricated by a femtosecond laser for studying the gliding mechanism of cyanobacteria."
    Lab Chip, 11(12), 2109-15 (2011)

Members

Principal Investigator

Atsushi MIYAWAKI
Laboratory Head

Members

Hiroyuki KAWANO
Research Scientist
Satoshi SHIMOZONO
Research Scientist
Ikuko ISHIKAWA
Research Scientist
Vetrivel LAKSHMANAN
Research Scientist
Ryoko ANDO
Research Scientist
Takashi FUKANO
Research Scientist
Masahiko HIRANO
Research Scientist
Hiroyuki KATAYAMA
Research Scientist
Hiroshi KUROKAWA
Research Scientist
Asako SAKAUE
Research Scientist
Hiroshi HAMA
Research Specialist
Yusuke NIINO
Special Postdoctoral Researcher
Akiko KUMAGAI
Special Postdoctoral Researcher
Yosuke OGURA
Student Trainee
Rie ITO
Technical Staff I
Takako KOGURE
Technical Staff I
Tetsushi HOSHIDA
Technical Staff I
Reiko TAKAHASHI
Technical Staff II
Hiroko SAKURAI
Assistant
Chikako HARA
Visiting Scientist
Hidekazu TSUTSUI
Visiting Scientist
Michio TOMURA
Visiting Scientist
Takayuki MIYAUCHI
Visiting Scientist
Masashi NAKAGAWA
Visiting Scientist
Kaoru SUGIMURA
Visiting Scientist
Tadahiro IIMURA
Visiting Scientist
Toshihiko OKI
Visiting Scientist
Yutaka MARUYAMA
Visiting Scientist
Takami MAEKAWA
Visiting Scientist
Hideaki MIZUNO
Visiting Scientist
Akihiro KIKUCHI
Visiting Scientist
Keiji IBATA
Visiting Scientist
Mayu SUGIYAMA
Visiting Scientist
Mitsuhiro HASHIMOTO
Visiting Scientist
Satoshi KARASAWA
Visiting Technician
Fumiyoshi ISHIDATE
Research Collaborative Advisor