Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

Department of Biological Sciences
Graduate School of Science
The University of Tokyo

Labs Masuda Lab

JP

Affiliated Division, Joint faculties / Faculties in other departments of University of Tokyo Masuda Lab Plant Metabolic System

Laboratory Website

Subject of research

  1. 1. Chloroplast biogenesis
  2. 2. Retrograde signaling
  3. 3. Bioinformatic approach to environment

Understanding the functional system architecture of plant cells through metabolic research

Tetrapyrrole molecules play essential roles in plant cells, such as chlorophyll, which is involved in photosynthesis, heme, which is involved in redox and electron transport reactions, and bilin, which is the chromophore of photoreceptors. Our laboratory has elucidated the control mechanism of the tetrapyrrole synthesis system and conducted detailed analysis of the functions of each isozyme. Furthermore, by comprehensively controlling the expression of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and photosynthesis-related genes, we have succeeded in forming chloroplasts in roots, a non-photosynthetic tissue.
  • Roots that regulated the expression of chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthetic genes and induced chloroplast differentiation