TANIGUCHI Laboratory – Kyoto University /RIKEN

Pursuing next-generation life/medical science through exhaustive analyses of the cell

Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University

Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University

Biological functions such as cellular differentiation are often regulated by vast numbers of molecules. Elucidating the general principles behind the organization of these complex molecular environments is a critical challenge.

Our laboratory addresses this challenge by developing new technologies for the large-scale characterization and manipulation of intracellular molecular activities. By integrating knowledge from multiple academic fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, and informatics, we aim to understand, predict, and control intracellular molecular interactions.

Research

Elucidating novel aspects of life using innovative new technologies

Continued progress in modern life science is supported by the development of new technologies such as genome sequencing and mass spectrometry. Our laboratory aims to enhance this progress by uniting various academic fields to create breakthrough new technologies. We work with the following array of technologies and fields as potential elements of the new technologies as examples.

Next-generation sequencing

A technique for deciphering the sequences of millions to hundreds of millions of DNA fragments in parallel. It can be used to analyze genome sequences and gene expression levels in various biological organisms.

Multi-omics analysis

A comprehensive and integrated analysis for various species of bio-molecules including DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites in a cell or tissue.

Molecular dynamics simulation

A method for predicting and simulating motions of molecules by repeatedly solving the Newton's equation of motion with a computer to calculate physical forces acting among atoms.

Optical microscopy

A method to observe detailed structures in a sample with a light. It can be used to selectively detect specific species of molecules with fluorescent probes and to capture their spatial distributions at single-molecule level.

Single cell analysis

An analysis to examine characteristics of each single cell, aiming at a bottom-up understanding of the life.

Lithography

A technology to construct micro- or nano-structures on a substrate using a light or electron beam.

Large-scale genetic recombination

A technique for altering various features of biological organisms by rewriting their genome sequences on a large scale.

Genome editing

A technique to efficiently rewrite genome sequences at any loci using a site-specific nucleic acid-degrading enzyme.

Cell differentiation technique

A technique for transforming undifferentiated cells into functionalized cells through physical stimulations, growth factor regulations, gene introduction or compound treatments.

High-throughput measurement

A method for measuring large quantities of samples using automated systems/robots to rapidly find conditions that exhibit characteristic features.

Software development

An approach to build a computational platform to analyze large amounts of datasets such as images and sequence sequences or to carry out efficient and large-scale simulations.

Bioinformatics

A field aiming at analyzing information on numerous species of bio-molecules such as DNA, RNA and protein using informatic/statistical methods to find underlying mechanisms or global rules.

Machine learning

A method for data prediction and analysis based on a computer algorithm to discover features or patterns hidden in a vast amount of datasets.

Physical modeling

An approach for logical understanding and prediction of complex biological phenomena by formulating quantitative relationships among multiple parameters or their dependence on environments.

Research theme

Elucidating the working principles of the genome

Our laboratory aims to understand the working principles of the genome by investigating its molecular-level architecture from the standpoints of chemistry and physics.

Research theme

Understanding the constitutional principles of cellular systems

Our laboratory is developing techniques to quantify all intracellular proteins (the proteome) under various physiological conditions, which will allow us to determine the control logic of the proteome.

Research theme

New principles and methods in disease diagnosis

Our laboratory is pursuing various technological approaches aimed at accurately capturing and manipulating the physiological states of living organisms, including humans.