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

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
August 11, 2006
Color and light to illuminate biochemical pathways
A new fluorescent label for proteins to reveal greater molecular detail of biochemical pathwaysNew Window

List of Selected Publications

  1. Sakaue-Sawano A, Kobayashi T, Ohtawa K, Miyawaki A.:
    "Drug-induced cell cycle modulation leading to cell-cycle arrest, nuclear mis-segregation, or endoreplication."
    BMC Cell Biology, 12:2 (2011)
  2. Miyawaki A.:
    "Imaging: Visualizing a neuronal handshake."
    Nat. Chem. Biol., 6 (12): 885-886 (2010).
  3. Tsutsui H, Higashijima SI, Miyawaki A, Okamura Y.:
    "Visualizing Voltage Dynamics in Zebrafish Heart."
    J Physiol. 588(Pt 12): 2017-2021 (2010).
  4. Tsutsui H, Shimizu H, Mizuno H, Nukina N, Furuta T, Miyawaki A.:
    "The E1 mechanism in photo-induced β-elimination reactions for green-to red conversion of fluorescent proteins."
    Chemistry & Biology, 16(11): 1140-1147 (2009).
  5. Sugiyama M, Sakaue-Sawano A, Iimura T, Fukami K, Kitaguchi T, Kawakami K, Okamoto H, Higashijima S, Miyawaki A.:
    "Illuminating cell-cycle progression in the developing zebrafish embryo."
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 106 (49): 20812-20817 (2008).
  6. Miyawaki A.:
    "Great expectations."
    Science, 326 (5951): 339 (2009).
  7. Shimozono S, Tsutsui H, Miyawaki A.:
    "Diffusion of Large Molecules into Assembling Nuclei Revealed Using."
    Biophys. J. 97 (5): 1288-1294 (2009).
  8. Sakaue-Sawano A, Ohtawa K, Hama H, Kawano M, Ogawa M, Miyawaki A.:
    "Tracing the Silhouette of Individual Cells in S/G2/M Phases with Fluorescence"
    Chemistry & Biology, 15: 1243-1248 (2008).
  9. Tsutsui H, Karasawa S, Okamura Y, Miyawaki A:
    "Improving membrane voltage measurements using FRET with new fluorescent proteins"
    Nature Methods, 5: 683-685 (2008).
  10. Mizuno H, Kumar Mal T, Wälchli M, Kikuchi A, Fukano T, Ando R, Jeyakanthan J, Taka J, Shiro Y, Ikura M, Miyawaki A.:
    "Light-dependent regulation of structural flexibility in a photochromic fluorescent protein"
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 105: 9927-9932 (2008).
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