Morimoto LAB @ Kyutech
Research
(1) Signal Transduction in Eukaryotes
Multicellular organisms, including humans, are formed as a single organism through cell-cell signaling. Using cellular slime mold, a model organism for studying signal transduction, we aim to elucidate how living systems efficiently carry out signal transduction.
(2) Energy Conversion Mechanism of Molecular Motors
In both multicellular and unicellular organisms, individual cells are actively moving. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli swim around in water at high speed by rotating their flagellum. At the base of the flagellum is a rotary motor similar to an artificial motor, which rotates by efficient energy conversion using ion concentration gradients. Elucidating the energy conversion mechanism of biomolecular motors will provide insights not only into the life sciences but also into engineering nanomachine research.
(3) Development of Highly Sensitive pH Imaging System
Cells and intracellular organelles are able to perform efficient respiration, motility, and transport by utilizing ion concentration gradients. To understand such energy conversion mechanisms, it is necessary to quantify intracellular ion concentrations and pH with high precision. By developing an intracellular pH imaging system at the local level within a single cell, we are revealing the existence of a pH gradient within a single bacterial cell.
Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering,
Kyushu Institute of Technology ( Kyutech )
680-4 Kawazu, Iizuka-shi, Fukuoka, JAPAN
Prof. (PI): Yusuke V. Morimoto
E-mail: yvm001( )phys.kyutech.ac.jp