Research Activities

In our laboratory, we regard cellular-level order formation and environmental responsiveness as essential properties of living systems, and we study these processes primarily using plant cells as experimental materials. Our research focuses on the quantitative analysis of cytoskeletal reorganization, the structure and dynamics of membrane-bound organelles, stomatal movements, and cell division, based on live imaging and image analysis. In addition, through biologically oriented image analysis assisted by machine learning and through interdisciplinary collaborations, we aim to extract universal principles underlying biological phenomena. The main research topics of our laboratory are outlined below.

(1) Research on order formation in the plant cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a dynamic structural system composed of microtubules and actin filaments, and it provides an essential foundation for plant cell morphology and function, including cell division and elongation. In our laboratory, we seek to elucidate how cytoskeletal networks form and reorganize order within plant cells, and how these processes contribute to cell morphogenesis and environmental responses, mainly through live imaging and image analysis.
(2) Research on environmental regulation of stomatal movements
Stomata are essential pores that mediate carbon dioxide uptake and water regulation in plants. Guard cell-driven stomatal opening and closing are precisely regulated in response to environmental cues such as light and carbon dioxide concentration. In our laboratory, we focus on membrane trafficking, the cytoskeleton, and organelle dynamics involved in the regulation of stomatal movements, with the aim of understanding plant environmental responses at the cellular level.
(3) Development and application of biological image analysis techniques
To understand biological phenomena in a reproducible manner, it is important not only to observe them under the microscope but also to analyze images quantitatively. In our laboratory, we develop image analysis methods, including the analysis of intracellular structural dynamics, three-dimensional reconstruction, and the quantification and evaluation of phenotypes, often with the aid of machine learning. Furthermore, on the basis of these analytical technologies, we promote transdisciplinary bioscience through collaboration with researchers in other fields.

Messages to Students

Scientific research often begins with curiosity about natural phenomena. However, as we pursue research, we also come to face the limits and biases of our own perception. In this sense, research is not only an endeavor to explore the subject of study, but also an endeavor to reflect on ourselves as researchers. In engaging in scientific research, it may be important not only to make full use of one’s abilities, but also to remain conscious of expanding them.