Organelle Networks in Living Cells :

Within cells, diverse biochemical reactions are tightly coordinated, enabling each cell to autonomously maintain homeostasis and execute specialized functions. These reactions do not occur randomly throughout the cytoplasm; rather, many take place within specific subcellular compartments—organelles—such as mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and lysosomes.

To allow these reactions to coordinate, inter-organelle communication, including material exchange and signal transduction, is crucial. For a long time, organelles were thought to function independently within the cell. However, recent studies have revealed that organelles are in fact physically tethered to each other, and actively exchange molecules and signals.

Our research focuses on this emerging concept of organelle communication, particularly on physical contacts between the ER and mitochondria. We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that govern these contacts, as well as their roles in regulating key cellular functions.

Mechanisms Underlying Neural Circuit Formation and Maintenance :

Neurons in the mammalian brain form long and slender processes that can extend several centimeters to connect with other neurons. The formation and maintenance of such elaborate structures are thought to be governed by highly refined regulatory mechanisms—many of which remain poorly understood.

We are particularly interested in how organelles contribute to the development and maintenance of neural circuits, and are investigating their roles in this context.

Nanoscale Structural Analysis of Neurons Using Electron Microscopy :

Our understanding of cells at the nanoscale remains limited, in part because visualizing subcellular structures at nanometer resolution is technically challenging. In our lab, we have developed customized electron microscopy techniques, combined with deep learning–based image analysis, to reconstruct and analyze the three-dimensional ultrastructure of neurons and other cell types with high precision.

Adult neurogenesis :

New neurons generated in the adult brain play key roles in cognitive functions such as memory formation. However, much remains unknown—particularly regarding when and how many neurons are generated under various physiological conditions.

We aim to uncover the regulatory mechanisms that control the differentiation of neural stem cells into functional neurons in the adult brain.