RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research Laboratory for Ultrastructural Research
Team Leader: Shigenobu Yonemura (Ph.D.)
Research Summary

This research team analyzes detailed morphological information in various researches of the life science field, which is acquired through ultrastructural techniques using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. In collaboration with many laboratories including within RIKEN, we have accumulated a large amount of experiences to improve methods for better morphology.
Main Research Fields
- Biology
Related Research Fields
- Medicine, Dentistry & Pharmacy
Keywords
- Multicellular morphogenesis
- Cell polarity
- Mechanobiology
Selected Publications
- 1.Akiyama T, Inoko A, Kaji Y, Yonemura S, Kakiguchi K, Segawa H, Ishitsuka K, Yoshida M, Numata O, Leproux P, Couderc V, Oshika T, Kano H.:
"SHG-specificity of cellular Rootletin filaments enables naïve imaging with universal conservation."
Sci Rep. 7:39967 (2017) - 2.Maki K, Han SW, Hirano Y, Yonemura S, Hakoshima T, Adachi T.:
"Mechano-adaptive sensory mechanism of α-catenin under tension."
Sci Rep. 6:24878 (2016) - 3.Shibata N, Kashima M, Ishiko T, Nishimura O, Rouhana L, Misaki K, Yonemura S, Saito K, Siomi H, Siomi MC, Agata K.:
"Inheritance of a Nuclear PIWI from Pluripotent Stem Cells by Somatic Descendants Ensures Differentiation by Silencing Transposons in Planarian."
Dev Cell. 37:226-237 (2016) - 4.Shirai H, Mandai M, Matsushita K, Kuwahara A, Yonemura S, Nakano T, Assawachananont J, Kimura T, Saito K, Terasaki H, Eiraku M, Sasai Y, Takahashi M.:
"Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal tissue in two primate models of retinal degeneration."
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E81-90 (2016) - 5.Ebrahim, S., Fujita, T., Millis, B. A., Kozin, E., Ma, X., Kawamoto, S., Baird, M. A., Davidson, M., Yonemura, S., Hisa, Y., Conti, M. A., Adelstein, R. S., Sakaguchi, H., Kachar, B.:
"NMII Forms a Contractile Transcellular Sarcomeric Network to Regulate Apical Cell Junctions and Tissue Geometry."
Curr Biol. 23:731-736 (2013) - 6.Tsujioka, M., Yumura, S., Inouye, K., Patel, H., Ueda, M., Yonemura, S.:
"Talin couples the actomyosin cortex to the plasma membrane during rear retraction and cytokinesis."
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109: 12992-12997 (2012) - 7.Suga, H., Kadoshima, T., Minaguchi, M., Ohgushi, M., Soen, M., Nakano, T., Takata, N., Wataya, T., Muguruma, K., Miyoshi, H., Yonemura, S., Oiso, Y., Sasai, Y.:
"Self-formation of functional adenohypophysis in three-dimensional culture."
Nature. 480:57-62 (2011) - 8.Yonemura, S.:
"A mechanism of mechanotransduction at the cell-cell interface: Emergence of α-catenin as the center of a force-balancing mechanism for morphogenesis in multicellular organisms."
Bioessays. 33:732-736 (2011) - 9.Yonemura, S.:
"Cadherin-actin interactions at adherens junctions."
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 23:515-522 (2011) - 10.Yonemura, S., Wada, Y., Watanabe, T., Nagafuchi, A. and Shibata, M.:
"α-catenin as a tension transducer that induces adherens junction development."
Nature Cell Biol. 12:533-542 (2010)
Recent Research Results
Apr. 19, 2019
Flies smell through a gore-tex system
Related Links
Lab Members
Principal investigator
- Shigenobu Yonemura
- Team Leader
Core members
- Shigeo Hayashi
- Deputy Team Leader
- Kenta Onoue
- Technical Staff I
- Satoko Okayama
- Technical Staff I
Contact Information
2-2-3 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku
Kobe, Hyogo
650-0047 Japan
Tel: 078-306-3105
Email: Email: shigenobu.yonemura [at] riken.jp