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- 2024.07.08Information
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Elucidating the mechanisms of
“Biological Clusters”
that support cellular functions
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Research Projects
What are Biological Clusters?
In the cells of living organisms, various proteins perform diverse functions to maintain life activities.
In cells, protein complexes are clustered to a higher order structure called “supramolecular complexes”, which governs various cellular functions.
In this Research Area, we define “Biological Clusters” as functional “supramolecular complexes” and aim to clarify their formation mechanisms and functional properties, and understand how they generate cellular functions.
For example, some supramolecular complexes secure a certain volume, acquire physical strength, and form functional systems by forming clusters within cells, functioning as “Biological Clusters”.
Furthermore, in addition to intermolecular interactions, various factors such as the spatial effects of the crowded molecular environment and platform effects may be involved in cluster formation within cells.
Considering these factors, research on “Biological Clusters”, which aims to fill the gap between the structural information of protein complexes and cellular functions of the supramolecular complexes in cells, can be a challenge that will bring about a transformation in biology.
Approach of This Research Area
Opening Up a New Academic Field by Various Scientists with Different Disciplines
To analyze the formation mechanisms and significance of Biological Clusters, it is necessary to combine cell biology, biochemistry, and structural biology with advanced electron microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, super-resolution imaging methods, and so-called soft matter physics and mathematical simulations that treat their dynamics from a physical perspective. By bringing physical theories into the understanding of phenomena observed in cells and physical quantities measured, and by complementing biology and physics with each other, we will promote the integrated research.
In this research area, we particularly focus on supramolecular complexes that exist within cells, such as centrosomes, centromeres, and chromosomes, and aim to elucidate their structural basis and formation mechanisms.
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How do Biological Clusters create functions within cells?
Three planned research teams will take on this challenge.
Planned Research Team A01
Elucidation of the molecular basis of Biological Clusters and their relationship to cellular functions
What basic structures and characteristics do Biological Clusters have?
We aim to elucidate their structural basis and functions
Tatsuo Fukagawa
Kinetochore Supramolecular Complex
Yasuto Murayama
SMC Supramolecular Complex
Toru Hirota
Centromere Supramolecular Complex
Daiju Kitagawa
Centrosome Supramolecular Complex
Planned Research Team A02
Visualization of Biological Clusters and their molecular dynamics
How do Biological Clusters behave within cells, and what factors control that behavior?
We aim to elucidate the cellular dynamics and regulation mechanisms of Biological Clusters
Masayuki Oda
cryo-electron tomography
Takayuki Kato
cryo-electron tomography
Satoshi Kusumi
CLEM
Akira Kitamura
FCS / fluorescence correlation spectroscopy
Ryusuke Nozawa
super-resolution microscopy, and expansion microscopy
Yasuhiro Hirano
super-resolution microscopy, and expansion microscopy
Planned Research Team A03
Formation and characterization of Biological Clusters by physical and mathematical analysis
Elucidation of the formation and characteristics of Biological Clusters through physical and mathematical analyses
Miho Yanagisawa
Soft Matter Physics, Artificial Cell Systems
Yutetsu Kuruma
Soft Matter Physics, Artificial Cell Systems
Masashi Tachikawa
Molecular cluster simulations
Yuji Sakai
Molecular cluster simulations