GREETING

This laboratory started in 1877, when The University of Tokyo was established as the Laboratory of Zoology.
Ever since, it has been the leading biological research institute in Japan, making significant advances in physiology such as (1) the first successful measurement of the membrane potential (2) the discovery of the Ca2+ requirement for the muscle contraction, and (3) the determination of structure and action mechanisms of the cilliary movements.

140 years after Dr. Edward S. Morse the 1st Professor, Dr. Emoto succeeded this historical and prestigious laboratory as the 10th Professor.
With the brand-new name “Laboratory for Brain Function”, our laboratory continues to advance the understanding of biology, primarily focusing on one of its most enigmatic and exciting aspects – the neuronal mechanisms of “individuality”.

Biography

1997

Received PhD from Graduate School of Phermaceutical Sciences, the University of Tokyo (Prof. Keizo Inoue)

1997

Research Associate, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences (Dr. Umeda)

2002

Research Associate, University of California San Franscisco (Prof. Yuh-Nung Jan & Lily Jan)

2006

Independent Associate Professor, National Institute of Genetics Japan

2010

Group Director, Osaka Bioscience Institute

2013

Professor, Graduate School of Sciences, The University of Tokyo

Selected Publications

1. Yoshino J, Mali S, Williams CR, Morita T, Emerson C, Emerson C, Arp C, Miller S, Yin C, Hemmi C, Motoyoshi M, Ishii K, *Bautista D, *Emoto K & *Parrish JZ
Drosophila epidermal cells are intrinsically mechanosensitive and modulate nociceptive behavior outputs.
eLife (2024).

2. Furusawa K, Ishii K, Tsuji M, Tokumitsu N, Hasegawa E & *Emoto K
Presynaptic Ube3a E3 ligase promotes synapse elimination through downregulation of BMP signaling.
Science 381: 1197-1205 (2023).
DOI: 10.1126/science.ade8978

3. Tsuji M, Nishizuka Y & *Emoto K
Threat gates visual aversion via theta activity in Tachykinergic neurons.
Nature Communications 14: 3987 (2023).
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39667-z

4. Nakamizo-Dojo M, Ishii K, Yoshino J, Tsuji M & *Emoto K
Descending GABAergic pathway links brain sugar-sensing to peripheral nociceptive gating.
Nature Communications 14: 6515 (2023).
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42202-9

5. Yoshino J, Morikawa R, Hasegawa E & *Emoto K
Neural circuitry that evokes escape behavior upon activation of nociceptive sensory neurons in Drosophila larvae.
Current Biology 27: 2499-2504 (2017).
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.06.068

6. Yasunaga K, Tezuka A, Ishikawa N, Dairyo Y, Togashi K, Koizumi H & *Emoto K
Adult Drosophila sensory neurons specify dendrite territories independently of dendritic contacts through the Wnt5-Drl signaling pathway.
Genes & Development 29: 1763-1775 (2015).
DOI: 10.1101/gad.262592.115

7. Kanamori T, Yoshino J, Yasunaga K, Dairyo Y & *Emoto K
Local endocytosis triggers dendritic thinning and pruning in Drosophila sensory neurons.
Nature Communications 6: 6515 (2015).
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7515

8. Kanamori T, Kanai M, Dairyo Y, Yasunaga K, Morikawa R & *Emoto K
Compartmentalized calcium transients trigger dendrite pruning in Drosophila sensory neurons.
Science 340: 1475-1478 (2013).
DOI: 10.1126/science.1234879

9. Sakurai A, Koganazawa M, Yasunaga K, Emoto K & *Yamamoto D
Select interneuron clusters determine female choosiness in Drosophila.
Nature Communications 4: 1825 (2013).
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2837

10. Morikawa R, Kanamori T, Yasunaga K & *Emoto K
Different levels of the TRIM protein Asap regulate distinct axonal projections of Drosophila sensory neurons.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108: 19389-19394 (2011).
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109843108

11. Yasunaga K, Kanamori T, Morikawa R, Suzuki E & *Emoto K
Dendrite reshaping of adult Drosophila sensory neurons requires matrix metalloproteinase- mediated modification of the basement membranes.
Developmental Cell 18: 621-632 (2010).
DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.02.010

12. Koike-Kumagai M, Yasunaga K, Morikawa R, Kanamori T & *Emoto K
The target of rapamycin complex 2 controls dendritic tiling of Drosophila sensory neurons through the Tricornered kinase signaling pathway.
EMBO Journal 28: 3879-3892 (2009).
DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2009.312

13. Soba P, Zhu S, Emoto K, Younger S, Yang SJ, Yu HH, Lee T, Jan LY & *Jan YN
Drosophila sensory neurons require Dscam for dendrite self-avoidance and proper dendritic organization.
Neuron 54: 403-416 (2007).
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.03.029

14. Parrish JZ, Emoto K, Jan LY & *Jan YN
Polycomb genes interact with the tumor suppressor hippo and warts in the maintenance of Drosophila sensory neuron dendrites.
Genes & Development 21: 956-972 (2007).
DOI: 10.1101/gad.1514507

15. Emoto K, Parrish JZ, Jan LY & *Jan YN
The tumour suppressor Hippo acts with the NDR kinases sin dendritic tiling and maintenance.
Nature 443: 210-213 (2006).
DOI: 10.1038/nature05090

16. Emoto K, He Y, Ye B, Grueber WB, Adler PN, Jan LY & *Jan YN
Control of dendritic branching and tiling by the Tricornered-kinase/Furry signaling pathway in Drosophila sensory neurons.
Cell 119: 245-256 (2004).
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2004.09.036

17. Emoto K & *Umeda M
An essential role for a membrane phospholipid in cytokinesis: Regulation of contractile ring disassembly by redistribution of phosphatidylethanolamine.
J Cell Biol 149: 1215-1224 (2000).

18. Emoto K, Kuge O, Nishijima M & *Umeda M
Isolation of a Chinese hamster ovary cell mutant defective in intramitochondrial transport of phosphatidylserine.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96: 12400-12405 (1999).

19. Emoto K, Kobayashi T, Yamaji A, Aizawa H, Yahara I, Inoue K & *Umeda M
Redistribution of phosphatidylethanolamine at the cleavage furrow of dividing cells during cytokinesis.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93: 12867-12872 (1996).

Contact

Emoto Lab for Brain Function
Department of Biological Sciences
Graduate School of Science
The University of Tokyo
Room 151, Faculty of Science Building 2, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 Japan
TEL & FAX : 03-5841-4426
Email : emoto[at]bs.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp（replace [at] with ＠）