The Laboratory of Plant Functional Biotechnology is working to elucidate the molecular mechanisms mediating the regulation of plant-specific processes. One area of particular focus is the transcriptional control and signaling networks associated with the regulation of photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation, both of which are absolutely essential for plant growth and biomass production. Our laboratory utilizes several strategies and approaches to elucidate these complicated plant-specific processes, including molecular biology, biochemistry, plant physiology, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Our progress in understanding these questions contributes to discovering solutions for several current issues, such as easing the world food supply, promoting a low-carbon society, and achieving sustainable agricultural growth.
RESEARCH
Current projects
- Molecular mechanism of nitrate signaling and response in plants
- Molecular mechanism of sugar signaling and response in plants
- Functions of Dof transcription factors unique to plants
- Plant metabolic engineering to improve nitrogen use efficiency
- Modeling of plant growth control in response to nutrients in the field
(CREST program) - Plant-microbe interactions
Previous projects
- Trans-splicing in living cells
- Network analysis of high CO2 responses based on the C/N balance in plants with enhanced nitrogen assimilation
(新学術領域「植物生態学・分子生理学コンソーシアムによる陸上植物の高CO2応答の包括的解明」課題) - Molecular basis of plant metabolism regulation mediated by nutrient signals
(CREST program)
Media Attention
- 2015/08/25
- 東大新聞「食の科学の最先端を探る:今も変わらぬ大切に育てる心」
- 2013/04/25
- 朝日新聞 (全国版朝刊)「早く育つ野菜、できるかも 窒素利用の仕組み解明」
- 2013/08/21
- UTokyo Research窒素栄養の利用を制御する植物の仕組み