教員紹介

KAZAMA Tomohiko

Profile

Outline Activities

Our aims are understanding of structure and functions of the genome, and utilization of the knowledge in genome engineering technologies. Especially, we have focused on cooperative regulation between the nuclear genome and genomes of symbiotic organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, in plants, by using biochemical, genetic, and molecular biological approaches. Especially, I have a great interest in the phenomenon that arose due to the impaired cooperation between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, such as cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein is one such regulator, which is a nuclear-encoded, sequence-specific RNA binding protein involved in organelle gene expression. We have elucidated the RNA recognition rule of PPR protein and have started the development of a new genome-editing tool.

Message

Plants live by successfully adapting to their environment without having a will, and they have developed sophisticated systems that we cannot imagine. Let's do research together to shed some light on this system and make use of it in our society.

Educational Activities

Undergraduate School

Molecular Biology

Graduate School

Molecular Biosciences I
Molecular Biosciences II