Chief Scientist Laboratories Molecular Physiology Laboratory
Chief Scientist: Rikiya Watanabe (Ph.D.)
Research Summary
Our study aims to understand cellular functions using a bottom-up approach from the single molecule level. To achieve this, we are attempting to elucidate the mechanism by which individual biomolecules or their networks function in a precise manner, by developing novel single-molecule techniques using multidisciplinary approaches, including biophysics, bioMEMS, and chemical biology. In addition, we are developing a methodology to investigate correlations between genetic mutations, dysfunctions, and diseases with single molecule sensitivity, which would provide new insights for biological as well as pharmaceutical studies.
Main Research Fields
- Biology
Related Research Fields
- Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering
- Biophysics
- Nano/Microsystems
Keywords
- Membrane protein
- Artificial Biomembrane
- Artificial cell
- bioMEMS
- Digital Biology
Selected Publications
Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.
- 1.
Shinoda, H., Taguchi, Y., Nakagawa, R., Makino, A., Okazaki, S., Nakano, M., Muramoto, Y., Takahashi, C., Takahashi, I., Ando, J., Noda, T., Nureki, O., Nishimasu, H., & Watanabe, R.:
"Amplification-free RNA detection with CRISPR-Cas13"
Commun. Biol. 4, 476 (2021) - 2.
Sakamoto, S., Komatsu, T., Watanabe, R., Zhang, Y., Inoue, T., Kawaguchi, M., Nakagawa, H., Ueno, T., Okusaka, T., Honda, K., Noji, H., & Urano, Y.:
"Multiplexed single-molecule enzyme activity analysis for counting disease-related proteins in biological samples"
Sci. Adv. 6, eaay0888 (2020) - 3.
*Watanabe, R., Sakuragi, T., Noji, H., & Nagata, S.:
"Single molecule analysis of phospholipid scrambling by TMEM16F"
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 115, 3066-3071 (2018) - 4.
*Abe, K., Katsuno, H., Toriyama, M., Baba, K., Mori, T., Hakoshima, T., Kanemura, Y., Watanabe, R., & Inagaki, N.:
"Grip and slip of L1-CAM on adhesive substrates direct growth cone haptotaxis"
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 115, 2764-2769 (2018) - 5.
*Watanabe, R., Soga, N., Hara, M., & Noji, H.:
"Arrayed water-in-oil droplet bilayers for membrane transport analysis"
Lab Chip 16, 3043-3048 (2016) - 6.
*Watanabe, R., Soga, N., Fujita, D., Tabata, K. V., Yamauchi, L., Kim, SH., Asanuma, D., Kamiya, M., Urano, Y., Suga, H., & Noji, H.:
"Arrayed lipid bilayer chambers allow single-molecule analysis of membrane transporter activity"
Nat. Commun. 5, 4519 (2014) - 7.
*Watanabe, R., & Noji, H.:
"Timing of inorganic phosphate release modulates the catalytic activity of ATP-driven rotary motor protein"
Nat. Commun. 5, 3486 (2014) - 8.
*Watanabe, R., Tabata, KV., Iino, R., Ueno, H., Iwamoto, M., Oiki, S., & Noji, H.:
"Biased Brownian stepping rotation of FoF1-ATP synthase driven by proton motive force"
Nat. Commun. 4, 1631 (2013) - 9.
*Watanabe, R., Okuno, D. Sakakihara, S. Shimabukuro, K. Iino, R. Yoshida, M. & Noji, H.:
"Mechanical modulation of catalytic power on F1-ATPase"
Nat. Chem. Biol. 1, 86-92 (2012) - 10.
*Watanabe, R., Iino, R. & Noji, H.:
"Phosphate release in F1-ATPase catalytic cycle follows ADP release."
Nat. Chem. Biol. 6, 814-20 (2010)
Annual research report
Related Links
Lab Members
Principal investigator
- Rikiya Watanabe
- Chief Scientist
Core members
- Jun Ando
- Research Scientist
- Hajime Shinoda
- Research Scientist
- Yoshiaki Kinoshita
- Special Postdoctoral Researcher
- Tomoya Ueda
- Special Postdoctoral Researcher
- Asami Makino
- Technical Staff I
- Tatsuya Iida
- Technical Staff I
- Mami Yoshimura
- Technical Staff I
- Yuka Takano
- Assistant
- Kazue Murai
- Research Part-time Worker II
- Makiko Mori
- Administrative Part-time Worker I
Contact Information
Bioscience Building S252
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako,
Saitama 351-0198, Japan
Email: rikiya.watanabe [at] riken.jp