Genome Dynamics Laboratory

Maeshima Group

3D-organization and dynamics of human genome

Faculty

MAESHIMA, Kazuhiro
Professor

kmaeshim@nig.ac.jp

researchmap

 Lab HP

Research Summary

Our research interest is to know how a long string of human genome is three-dimensionally organized in the cell, and how the human genome is read out for cellular proliferation, differentiation and development. For this purpose, we are using a unique combination of molecular cell biology and biophysics, such as live-cell single molecule imaging, superresolution imaging, machine learning, genomics and computational simulation.

Human genome chromatin consists of irregularly folded 10-nm fibers and forms numerous chromatin domains in the cell nuclei. The chromatin domain dynamically behaves like “liquid”. NPC, nuclear pore complex; NE, nuclear envelope.

Selected Publications

  • Shimazoe MA, Huertas J, Phillips C, Ide S, Tamura S, Farr S, Ashwin SS, Sasai M, Collepardo-Guevara R, Maeshima K. Science Adv. 2026 Apr 10;12(15):eaec9801. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aec9801.
  • Minami K, Nakazato K, Ide S, Kaizu K, Higashi K, Tamura S, Toyoda A, Takahashi K, Kurokawa K, Maeshima K. Science Adv. 2025 Mar 28;11(13):eadu8400. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adu8400.
  • Iida S, Ide S, Tamura S, Sasai M, Tani T, Goto T, Shribak M, Maeshima K. Orientation-independent-DIC imaging reveals that a transient rise in depletion attraction contributes to mitotic chromosome condensation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Sep 3;121(36):e2403153121.
  • Hibino K, Sakai Y, Tamura S, Takagi M, Minami K, Natsume T, Shimazoe MA,Kanemaki MT, Imamoto N, Maeshima K. Single-nucleosome imaging unveils that condensins and nucleosome-nucleosome interactions differentially constrain chromatin to organize mitotic chromosomes. Nature Commun. 2024 Aug 21;15(1):7152.