Research

Genetic dynamics

Chromatin and gene expression regulation

Regulation of gene expression is the heart of molecular biology. Transcription in eukaryotes is largely regulated by chromatin structure change via various epigenetic mechanisms. To reveal molecular mechanisms of these systems, we investigate structural dynamics of nucleosomes, chromatin, and transcription-related molecules.

Molecular motor

Free-energy transducer

Biomolecular motor transduces chemical energy supplied by ATP hydrolysis to mechanical work. It works solely by a single set of nano-scale molecules and its transduction efficiency is amazingly high. We are conducting simulation-based study to clarify its working principles.

Protein folding

Proteins, born in a random-coil structure, can spontaneously fold to their native structures. We study physical chemistry of protein folding mechanisms.

Structure change and function

Allostery

Conformational change of proteins upon binding to their partners is a fundamental for virtually all biological phenomena. We study its mechanisms via molecular simulations.

Multiscale-modeling of biomolecular systems

Other interested theme

Protein in vivo
Lipid membrane dynamics
Simulation methodology
Systems biology
Bioinformatics