Our research focuses on elucidating the three-dimensional structures of supramolecular complexes, with a particular emphasis on membrane proteins and their functional assemblies.

Membrane proteins play pivotal roles in essential life processes. Key examples include protein complexes involved in bioenergetic conversion—such as those driving cellular respiration and plant photosynthesis—as well as receptor proteins responsible for signal transduction, and membrane channels or pumps that facilitate the transport of ions and biomolecules across biological membranes.

Despite their biological importance, structural studies of membrane proteins have long been hindered by the inherent difficulties in handling them and their low natural abundance. Consequently, determining their structures remains one of the most significant challenges in the post-genomic era. Currently, our laboratory is primarily dedicated to investigating the membrane proteins and complexes involved in photosynthesis.

Research Highlights

Structure and function of a huge photosystem I-fucoxanthin chlorophyll supercomplex from a coccolithophore.

Shen L, Ren F, Wang YC, Li Z, Zheng M, Li X, Fan W, Yang Y, Sang M, Liu C, Han G, Qin S, Fan J, Tian L, Kuang T, Shen JR, Wang W.

Science. 2025 Sep 11;389(6765):eadv2132. doi: 10.1126/science.adv2132.

Oxygen-evolving photosystem II structures during S1-S2-S3 transitions.

Li H, Nakajima Y, Nango E, Owada S, Yamada D, Hashimoto K, Luo F, Tanaka R, Akita F, Kato K, Kang J, Saitoh Y, Kishi S, Yu H, Matsubara N, Fujii H, Sugahara M, Suzuki M, Masuda T, Kimura T, Thao TN, Yonekura S, Yu LJ, Tosha T, Tono K, Joti Y, Hatsui T, Yabashi M, Kubo M, Iwata S, Isobe H, Yamaguchi K, Suga M, Shen JR.

Nature. 2024 Feb;626(7999):670-677. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06987-5

Architecture of the chloroplast PSI-NDH supercomplex in Hordeum vulgare.

Shen L, Tang K, Wang W, Wang C, Wu H, Mao Z, An S, Chang S, Kuang T, Shen JR, Han G, Zhang X.

Nature. 2022 Jan;601(7894):649-654. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-04277-6.

Architecture of the photosynthetic complex from a green sulfur bacterium.

Chen JH, Wu H, Xu C, Liu XC, Huang Z, Chang S, Wang W, Han G, Kuang T, Shen JR, Zhang X.

Science. 2020 Nov 20;370(6519):eabb6350. doi: 10.1126/science.abb6350.

An oxyl/oxo mechanism for oxygen-oxygen coupling in PSII revealed by an x-ray free-electron laser.

Suga M, Akita F, Yamashita K, Nakajima Y, Ueno G, Li H, Yamane T, Hirata K, Umena Y, Yonekura S, Yu LJ, Murakami H, Nomura T, Kimura T, Kubo M, Baba S, Kumasaka T, Tono K, Yabashi M, Isobe H, Yamaguchi K, Yamamoto M, Ago H, Shen JR.

Science. 2019 Oct 18;366(6463):334-338. doi: 10.1126/science.aax6998.

The pigment-protein network of a diatom photosystem II-light-harvesting antenna supercomplex.

Pi X, Zhao S, Wang W, Liu D, Xu C, Han G, Kuang T, Sui SF, Shen JR.

Science. 2019 Aug 2;365(6452):eaax4406. doi: 10.1126/science.aax4406.

Structural basis for blue-green light harvesting and energy dissipation in diatoms.

Wang W, Yu LJ, Xu C, Tomizaki T, Zhao S, Umena Y, Chen X, Qin X, Xin Y, Suga M, Han G, Kuang T, Shen JR.

Science. 2019 Feb 8;363(6427):eaav0365. doi: 10.1126/science.aav0365.

Structure of photosynthetic LH1-RC supercomplex at 1.9 Å resolution.

Yu LJ, Suga M, Wang-Otomo ZY, Shen JR.

Nature. 2018 Apr;556(7700):209-213. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0002-9.

Light-induced structural changes and the site of O=O bond formation in PSII caught by XFEL.

Suga M, Akita F, Sugahara M, Kubo M, Nakajima Y, Nakane T, Yamashita K, Umena Y, Nakabayashi M, Yamane T, Nakano T, Suzuki M, Masuda T, Inoue S, Kimura T, Nomura T, Yonekura S, Yu LJ, Sakamoto T, Motomura T, Chen JH, Kato Y, Noguchi T, Tono K, Joti Y, Kameshima T, Hatsui T, Nango E, Tanaka R, Naitow H, Matsuura Y, Yamashita A, Yamamoto M, Nureki O, Yabashi M, Ishikawa T, Iwata S, Shen JR.

Nature. 2017 Mar 2;543(7643):131-135. doi: 10.1038/nature21400.

Photosynthesis. Structural basis for energy transfer pathways in the plant PSI-LHCI supercomplex.

Qin X, Suga M, Kuang T, Shen JR.

Science. 2015 May 29;348(6238):989-95. doi: 10.1126/science.aab0214.

Inorganic chemistry. A synthetic Mn₄Ca-cluster mimicking the oxygen-evolving center of photosynthesis.

Zhang C, Chen C, Dong H, Shen JR, Dau H, Zhao J.

Science. 2015 May 8;348(6235):690-3. doi: 10.1126/science.aaa6550.

Native structure of photosystem II at 1.95 Å resolution viewed by femtosecond X-ray pulses.

Suga M, Akita F, Hirata K, Ueno G, Murakami H, Nakajima Y, Shimizu T, Yamashita K, Yamamoto M, Ago H, Shen JR.

Nature. 2015 Jan 1;517(7532):99-103. doi: 10.1038/nature13991.

Crystal structure of oxygen-evolving photosystem II at a resolution of 1.9 Å.

Umena Y, Kawakami K, Shen JR, Kamiya N.

Nature. 2011 May 5;473(7345):55-60. doi: 10.1038/nature09913.

Research Environment

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We are constantly seeking motivated researchers to join our team. 

If you are a student interested in our research, we welcome your inquiries and are happy to discuss potential opportunities.

Contact Information

• Office: Room 205, 2F, Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (RIIS)

• Phone: +81-86-251-8502 (Ext. 8502)

• Email: shen(at)cc.okayama-u.ac.jp (Please replace (at) with @ when sending an email.)