NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
TOKYO REGIONAL OFFICE

June 1, 2001

The National Science Foundation's Tokyo Regional Office periodically reports on developments in Japan that are related to the Foundation's mission. It also provides occasional reports on developments in other East Asian countries.

Tokyo Office Report Memoranda are intended to provide information for the use of NSF program officers and policy makers; they are not statements of NSF policy.

RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) was founded in 1917 as a private research foundation supported primarily by contributions from Japanese industry. In 1958, it was reorganized as a public corporation under the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology Agency of Japan (STA). Its jurisdiction was transferred to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho) when that ministry was created in January 2001. RIKEN obtains approximately 94 percent of its funding from Monbukagakusho, and the balance primarily from contracts with private industry. (Detailed information about RIKEN is available on its English language website: http://www.riken.go.jp/engn/index.html.)

RIKEN engages in a wide spectrum of research fields and actively promotes interdisciplinary activities. Since its creation, the institute Laboratory System has successfully promoted basic science and been considered the " heart" of RIKEN. Today it includes the Harima Institute, the Tsukuba Center, the Yokohama Center, in addition to the original laboratories at Wako main campus, in suburban Tokyo. Additionally, RIKEN has overseas facilities at the Rutherord Laboratory in the UK and the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island in the United States. Each of its facilities a core staff of permanently appointed scientists and a number of fixed-term contract employees, operating under the leadership of a Chief Scientist.

RIKEN Frontier Research System (FRS), located at Wako, with regional facilities in Sendai, Nagoya, Shimizu and Miki, recruits scientists from Japan and across the world on fixed-term contracts.

The Brain Science Institute (BSI) which opened at Wako in 1997, promotes research in "understanding", "protecting" and "creating" the brain and operates a similar employment system to FRS.

In 1998 the Genomic Sciences Center (GSC) was established to carry out fundamental, integrated and systematic research in genome sciences.

During the past decade, RIKEN has devoted an increasing proportion of its resources in research in the biosciences. Its bioscience-related research organization and principal activities are summarized below.

• Antibiotics Laboratory (Dr. Hiroyuki OSADA)

1. Screening of microbial metabolites
2. Chemistry and biology of bioprobes
3. Identification of molecular targets of bioprobes
4. Analysis of the signal transduction mechanism in mammalian cells

• Cellular Biochemistry Laboratory (Dr. Masafumi TSUJIMOTO)

1. Signal transduction mechanisms of multi-functional cytokines
2. Structure and function of novel enzymes useful for the development of therapeutic reagents
3. Structure and function of novel scavenger receptors
4. Mechanisms of mRNA masking

• Cellular & Molecular Biology laboratory (Dr. Takehiko SHIBATA)

1. Molecular mechanisms of the initiation and regulation of homologous recombination in eukaryotes
2. Development and application of new NMR techniques for the structural analysis of biomacromolecular interactions
3. Biological functions of genetic recombination in higher eukaryotes and mitochondria
4. Molecular biology on apoptosis

• Microbiology Laboratory (Dr. Toshiaki KUDO)

1. Termite-microorganisms symbiotic system using culture-independent approaches
2. Diversity and evolution of aromatic compound degradation bacteria
3. Role of ion transport systems in bacterial adaptation to the environment

• Cellular Physiology Laboratory (Dr. Fumio HANAOKA)

1. Mechanism of chromosome replication
2. Mechanism of cell cycle regulation
3. DNA damage and the mechanism of DNA repair and mutagenesis

• Plant Functions Laboratory (Dr. Shigeo YOSHIDA)

1. Physiological study of the germination process
2. Biosynthetic mechanism of plant hormones
3. Gene expression for reproductive processes
4. Gene expression for plastid differentiation
5. Mutagenesis using heavy ion beam method
6. Synthesis of functional probes for plant physiology
7. Hornet science for biologically active compounds

• Microbial Toxicology Laboratory (Dr. Isamu YAMAGUCHI)

1. Molecular plant-microbe interactions
2. Action mechanism of novel plant-disease controllers and metabolic fate of xenobiotics
3. Phytopathological bioassay systems and bioremediation of the environment

• Molecular entomology and Baculovirology Laboratory (Dr. Shogo MATSUMOTO)

1. Molecular mechanisms of biological events regulated by insect neurohormones
2. Molecular interactions between insect viruses and their hosts

• Synthetic Cellular Chemistry Laboratory (Dr. Yukishige ITO)

1. Reconstruction of functional domain of glycoconjugates
2. New strategy for glycan synthesis and its application into the creation of glycoconjugate related molecular probes
3. Computational studies on glycoconjugates and related molecules

• Animal and Cellular Systems Laboratory (Dr. Akira TAKATSUKI)

1. Mechanism of intracellular trafficking of glycoconjugates
2. Glycofunction of glycoproteins
3. Metabolic regulation of lipids

• Molecular Membrane Biology Laboratory (Dr. Akihiko NAKANO)

1. Molecular mechanisms of vesicle formation and fusion in the secretory pathway
2. Mechanisms of protein sorting during membrane trafficking
3. Roles of membrane trafficking in the morphogenesis of higher plants

• Molecular Cell Science Laboratory (Dr. Hiroshi AMANUMA)

1. Biomedical studies of retroviruses
2. Molecular cell biology of cell growth, cell differentiation and cell cycle
3. Regulation of cellular function by retinoids
4. The developmental origin of hematopoietic stem cells

• Molecular Oncology Laboratory (Dr. Yoshiharu DOI)

1. Investigation of mechanisms of TNF/NGF receptor-mediated signal transduction
2. Investigation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes responsible for primary breast and ovarian cancers
3. Ribosome engineering and development of its potential function in mammalian cells

• Molecular Genetics Laboratory (Dr. Shunsuke ISHII)

1. Nuclear oncogene product as a transcriptional regulator
2. Gene expression by extracellular stimuli
3. Genetic study of transcription factors using Drosophila

• Genome science Laboratory (Dr. Yoshihide HAYASHIZAKI)

1. Development of positional candidate cloning method
2. Research of gene function using cDNA microarray technology
3. Development of the technology for gene-expression cascade
4. Imprint genes analysis

• Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory (Dr. Kazuo SHINOZAKI)

1. Structure and expression of plant genes induced by environmental stress
2. Molecular analysis of signal transduction in plants
3. Role of plant hormones in gene expression and plant development
4. Functional analysis of genes involved in plant development

• Bio-science Technology Center (Dr. Hiroyuki OSADA)

The three divisions in this center develop taxonomic system, identification, and preservation methods for microorganisms, as well as conducting the collection, inspection, preservation, supply, and classification of microorganisms, training in these areas, control and breeding of laboratory animals, and management of animal testing.

1. Systematics Division
2. Culture Collection Division
3. Laboratory Animals Research Division

• Supra-biomolecular System Research Group (Dr. Akemi SUZUKI)

1. Glyco-Chain Expression Lab. (Dr. Yasunori KOZUTSUMI)
2. Glyco-Chain Functions Lab. (Dr. Yasuhiro HASHIMOTO)
3. Sphingolipid Expression Lab. (Dr. Akemi SUZUKI)
4. Sphingolipid Functions Lab. (Dr. Toshihide KOBAYASHI)

• Bio-Mimetic Control Research Center (Dr. Toshio SATA)

1. Lab. for Neural Circuits (Dr. Yasuo KAWAGUCHI)
2. Lab. for Genes of Motor Systems (Dr. kazutoshi KIUCHI)
3. Lab. for Bio-Mimetic Sensory Systems (Dr. Noboru OHNISHI)
4. Lab. for Bio-Mimetic Control Systems (Dr. Shigeki HOSOE)

• Understanding the Brain
• Neuronal Function Research Group (Dr. Takao HENSCH)

1. Neuronal Recognition Molecules (Dr. Kensaku MORI)
2. Neurobiology of Synapse (Dr. Yoshihiro YOSHIHARA)
3. Cellular Information Processing (Dr. Ryoji YANO)
4. Neuronal Circuit Development (Takao HENSCH)

• Neuronal Circuit Mechanisms Research Group (Dr. M. ITO)

1. Memory and learning (Dr. Masao OTO)
2. Neurobiology of Emotion (Dr. Hiroaki NIKI)
3. Neuronal Circuit Dynamics (Dr. Thomas KNOPFEL)

• Cognitive Brain Science Group (Dr. K. TANAKA)

1. Cognitive Brain Mapping (Dr. Keiji TANAKA)
2. Integrative Neural Systems (Dr. Manabu TANIFUJI)
3. Human Grain Dynamics (Dr. Andreas IOANNIDES)
4. Cortical Organization and Systematics (Dr. Kathleen Rockland)

• RIKEN-MIT Neuroscience Research Center (Dr. Susumu Tonegawa)

• Protecting the Brain
• Developmental Brain science Group (Dr. K. MIKOSHIBA)

1. Developmental Neurobiology (Dr. Katsuhiko MIKOSHIBA)
2. Neural Regeneration (Dr. Kazuo KAJIWARA)
3. Developmental Gene Regulation (Dr. Hitoshi OKAMOTO)
4. Molecular Neurogenesis (Dr. Tei-ichi FURUICHI)

• Molecular Neuropathology Group (Dr. N. NUKINA)

1. CAG Repeat Diseases (Dr. Nobuyuki NUKINA)
2. Neurogenetics (Dr. Kazuhiro YAMAKAWA)
3. Motor System Neurodegeneration (Dr. Ryosuke TAKAHASHI)
4. Neurodegeneration Signal (Dr. Takashi OKAMOTO)

• Aging and Psychiatric Research Group (Dr. M. ITD)

1. Proteolytic Neuroscience (Dr. Takaomi SAIDO)
2. Alzheimer's Disease (Dr. Akihiko TAKASHIMA)
3. Molecular Psychiatry (Dr. Takeo YOSHIKAWA)
4. Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorders (Dr. Tadafumi KATO)

• Recovery Mechanisms Research Group (Dr. K. MIKOSHIBA)
       Cell Recovery Mechanism (Dr. Masayuki MIURA)

• Creating the Brain
• Brainway Group (Dr. G. MATSUMOTO)

1. Brain-operative Expression (Dr. Gen MATSUMOTO)
2. Brain-operative Device (Dr. Michinori ICHIKAWA)

• Brain-Style Intelligence Research Group (Dr. S. AMARI)

1. Language-Based Intelligent Systems (Dr. Michio SUGENO)
2. Dynamics of Emergent Intelligence (Dr. Yoko YAMAGUCHI)
3. Behavior and Dynamic Cognition (Dr. Jun TANI)

• Brain-Style Information Systems Research Group (Dr. S. AMARI)

1. Mathematical Neuroscience (Dr. Shun-ichi AMARI)
2. visual Neurocomputing (Dr Shigeru TANAKA)
3. Advanced Brain Signal Processing (Dr. Andrzej Cichocki)

• Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) (Dr. C. ITAKURA)
• Cell Function Dynamics (Dr. Atsushi MIYAWAKI)
• Neural Architecture (Dr. Tsutomu HASHIKAWA)
• Behavioral Generics (Dr. Shigeyoshi ITOHARA)
• Cell Culture Development (Dr. Masaharu OGAWA)

The RIKEN Tsukuba Institute was first opened in October 1984 as the "Tsukuba Life Science Research Center." The Life Science Research Center was established to promote gene research using a variety of recombinant DNA technologies. The Life Science Research Center was renamed as the RIKEN Tsukuba Institute in April of 2000.

• Biogenic Resources Center
  Research, development, accumulation, preservation, provision and technique progagation of biological and bioinformatic resources.

1. Experimental animal Research Division
2. Gene Engineering Research Division
3. Cell Science and Gene Banking Division
4. Experimental Plant Research Division
5. Bioinformatics and Computing Science Division

• RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology
  RIKEN established the Center for Developmental Biology (CDB) in April 2000 to lead research on animal development, regeneration and basic studies for medical applications.

1. Stem Cell Biology Group (Dr. Shinichi NISHIKAWA)
2. Organogenesis and Neurogenesis Group (Dr. Yoshiki SASAI)
3. Vertebrate Body Plan Group (Dr. Shinichi AIZAWA)
4. Morphogenetic Signaling Group (Dr. Shigeo HAYASHI)
5. Cell Asymmetry Group (Dr. Fumio MATSUZAKI)
6. Cell Adhesion and Tissue Patterning Group (Dr. Masatoshi TAKEICHI)
7. Evolutionary Regeneration Biology Group (Dr. Kiyokazu AGATA)

The RIKEN Harima Institute opened in October 1997 to use the SPring-8 facility for studies on advanced structural biology and the physical application of synchrotron radiation.

1. Structural Biophysics Laboratory (Dr. Masashi MIYANO)
2. Structural Biochemistry Laboratory (Dr. Yuichiro MAEDA)
3. Theoretical Structural Biology Laboratory (Dr. Kunio MILI)
4. Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory (Dr. Yoshitugu SHIRO)
5. Photosynthesis Research Laboratory (Dr. Hideo KITAMURA)
6. Cellular Signaling Laboratory (Dr. Shigeyuki YOKOYAMA)

• RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center

1. Genome Exploration Research Group (Dr. Yoshihide HAYASHIZAKI)
2. Protein Research Group (Dr. Shigeyuki YOKOYAMA)
3. Human Genome Research Group (Dr. Yoshiyuki SAKAKI)
4. Mouse Functional Genomics Research Group (Dr. Toshihiko SHIROISHI)
5. Plant Functional Genomic Research Group (Dr. Kazuo SHINOZAKI)
6. Bioinformatics Group (Dr. Akiyoshi WADA)

• RIKEN Plant Science Center

1. Genomic Function Research Group (Dr. Kiyotaka OKADA)
2. Morphogenesis Research Group (Dr. Hiroo FUKUDA)
3. Functional Control Research Group (Dr. Shigeo YOSHIDA)
4. Environmental Plant Research Group (Dr. Isamu YAMAGUCHI)

• RIKEN SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) Research Center

1. Laboratory for Genotyping (Dr. Yusuke NAKAMURA)
2. Laboratory for Cardiovascular Diseases (Dr. Toshihiro TANAKA)
3. Laboratory for Rheumatic Diseases (Dr. Kazuhiko YAMAMOTO)
4. Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases (Dr. Shiro IKEGAWA)
5. Laboratory for Functional Analysis (Dr. Kumiko KOYAMA)
6. Laboratory for Medical Informatics (Dr. Tatsuhiko TSUNODA)

Back to Top

Return to NSF Tokyo Homepage