LABORATORIES
Metabolomics Research Division
Plant Science Center research laboratories are building a research platform focused on the plant metabolome aspects of integrated genomics with the aim of improving plant production capabilities in both quantitative and qualitative terms.
Metabolomic Function Research Group
Our research group develops mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis for understanding the function of plant cell. We apply these metabolomics technologies for functional genomics, systems biology and biotechnology of plants.
Kazuki Saito
Metabolic Systems Research Team
Our team is working to predict novel control mechanisms through integrated analysis of metabolome and transcriptome data and verify those predictions in order to clarify metabolic systems and contribute to the development of useful plant substances.
Masami Yokota Hirai
Advanced NMR Metabomics Research Team
A major objective of our lab is to contribute technologies for solution-state and solid-state NMR analysis and resource discovery in order to contribute to plant biomass production and analysis.
Jun Kikuchi
Metabolome Informatics Research Team
Our unit focuses on developing platform software and databases for metabolomics analysis, network analysis and simulations.
Masanori Arita
Functional Genomics Informatics Research
Plant Functional Genomics Research Group
By developing cutting-edge, novel genome analysis technologies, our group will contribute to understanding of regulatory networks in organisms and contribute to fundamental research on the genomic functions of plants serves as the core of various research fields
Minami Matsui
Plant Genomic Network Research Team
Our team explores new genes and RNAs involved in environmental stress responses, and analyzes the novel mechanisms of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation through chromatin remodeling and RNAs by cutting-edge genomic technologies.
Motoaki Seki
Integrated Genome Informatics Research Unit
We are undertaking comparative analyses of various plant species using omics information and implementing publicly accessible information infrastructures based on these analyses.
Tetsuya Sakurai
R&D Programs for PSC
Researchers affiliated with the Gene Discovery Research Group undertake various types of research and development work that contribute to PSC as a whole.
- Development of bioimaging and microscopy technologies.
- Collection of Arabidopsis knock-out mutants for the phenome analysis in gene discovery.
- Fundamental research for bioinformatics-based comparative and evolutional genomics.
- Fundamental research for comparative genomics and its applications for crop improvement.
Growth Regulation and Productivity Systems Research
Growth Regulation Research Group
We have developed a sensitive analysis system for plant hormones and their intermediates. Our work on jasmonic acid and auxins will contribute to improve crop production.
Yuji Kamiya
Plant Productivity Systems Research Group
Our team is focused on the cornerstone of plant hormone research: effecting changes to the sink-source relationship in plant hormones and effective transport and accumulation of anabolites with the aim of improving crop production.
Hitoshi Sakakibara
Cell Function Research Team
Using Arabidopsis as a model system, we study how cell and organ size are regulated by developmental and environmental cues.
Keiko Sugimoto
Dormancy and Adaptation Research Unit
We study plant adaptation responses such as seed dormancy, germination and stress responses based on the biosynthesis and transport of plant hormones.
Mitsunori Seo
Environmental Response and Adaptation Research
Gene Discovery Research Group
Our group analyzes the molecular mechanisms involved in plant responses to abiotic stress such as drought and poor environments, and searches for genes involved in environmental stress tolerance that can be used to develop new stress-tolerant breeds.
Kazuo Shinozaki
Plant Immunity Research Group
The main goal of our group is to understand the molecular mechanisms of immunity in plants. We plan to systematically identify and characterize genes, proteins and small molecular compounds that are important for the defense by using genomics, proteomics and metabolomics approaches
Ken Shirasu
Signaling Pathway Research Unit
We are elucidating the gene regulatory networks regulating plant adaptation to stresses from signal perception to gene expression, and the crosstalk among different hormone pathways.
Lam-Son Phan Tran
Plant Proteomics Research Unit
We conduct research on protein modification and protein interactions to elucidate the molecular control mechanisms of important physiological functions in plants.
Hirofumi Nakagami
Regulatory Network Research Unit
The overall focus of our laboratory is to understand the biochemical pathways and molecular mechanisms of plant growth and signaling under nutrient-deprived conditions with the use of genetics and molecular tools. We aim to use the findings of this research to increase yields of crops and to deepen our understanding of constraints on plant growth in soils with low fertility.
Ryoung Shin