Shimamoto Group • Physics and Cell Biology Laboratory::National Institute of Genetics

Shimamoto Group • Physics and Cell Biology Laboratory

Molecular and cellular biophysics dissecting chromosome dynamics regulation

Faculty

SHIMAMOTO, Yuta

Associate Professor

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Research Summary

In most cells of our body, a variety of micron-sized structures, such as the nucleus and the mitotic spindle, assemble and function to control chromosome dynamics. Our laboratory uses advanced biophysical technologies, including intracellular micro/nanomanipulation, single-molecule imaging, and in vitro reconstitution, to visualize and manipulate such intracellular dynamics and unveil the intricated molecular mechanisms that ensure proper cell division and embryonic development.

Our laboratory studies chromosomal and cytoskeletal dynamics in early embryos using African clawed frogs and mice as model systems. We have recently revealed, using machine learning-based image analysis and cytoplasmic extracts prepared from frog eggs (A, B), how the spindle, the micron-sized chromosome segregation machine, is assembled into a proper bipolar shape essential for error-free cell division (C, D).

Selected Publications

Sridhara A, Shimamoto Y. Microtubule choreography: spindle self-organization during cell division. Biophys Rev. 2024 Sep 30;16(5):613-624.

Saju A, Chen PP, Weng TH, Tsai SY, Tanaka A, Tseng YT, Chang CC, Wang CH, Shimamoto Y, Hsia KC. HURP binding to the vinca domain of β-tubulin accounts for cancer drug resistance. Nat Commun. 2024 Oct 14;15(1):8844.

Fukuyama T, Yan L, Tanaka M, Yamaoka M, Saito K, Ti SC, Liao CC, Hsia KC, Maeda YT, Shimamoto Y. Morphological growth dynamics, mechanical stability, and active microtubule mechanics underlying spindle self-organization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Nov;119(44):e2209053119.

Mori M, Yao T, Mishina T, Endoh H, Tanaka M, Yonezawa N, Shimamoto Y, Yonemura S, Yamagata K, Kitajima TS, Ikawa M. RanGTP and the actin cytoskeleton keep paternal and maternal chromosomes apart during fertilization. J Cell Biol. 2021 Oct 4;220(10):e202012001.