Research Overview

In cells, molecules spontaneously assemble and form organelles without being enveloped by a lipid membrane, and it has become clear that they play essential roles throughout the cell. We aim to elucidate the functions of these non-membranous organelles by focusing on the statistical properties of intracellular molecules, including phase separation.

In particular, we are advancing our research on the principles of cellular reprogramming, which reverses "the cellular clock," using cutting-edge approaches beyond traditional molecular biology methods. These approaches include utilizing super-resolution imaging and optogenetics for light manipulation of molecular aggregation and conducting in silico analyses of phase separation based on mathematical models. The newfound knowledge will contribute to the development of next-generation iPS cell production technologies.