Workshops
Workshops
| Title | Organizer | Abstract | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WS01 | Frontiers of Cell Biology Research from Unicellular Organisms | Kentaro Nakano (Univ. of Tuskuba) Koichi Nihei (Bikaken) | Unicellular organisms have developed their cell structures and cell functions during the evolutionary process, and have established unique survival strategies ranging from free-living to parasitism. This workshop will provide an opportunity to deepen our understanding of cell biology and offer new perspectives by looking at the elaborate cell structures and unexpected cell functions of unicellular organisms and the mechanisms that support them, as well as to broaden our understanding of the diversity of life through an overview of these mechanisms. |
| WS02 | A New Perspective on Life Emerging from Sulfur Research | Hiroaki Miki (Kyoto Univ.) Hozumi Motohashi (Tohoku Univ.) | Sulfur has been a key driving force in the history of life on Earth. By focusing on supersulfides and related molecules—recently identified as universal biomolecules through technological advances—we aim to explore life from a new perspective. Current studies have uncovered the significant roles of supersulfides in the regulation of various biological phenomena. In this symposium, latest findings on supersulfides and related molecules will be presented. |
| WS03 | Organelle Metamorphosis | Satoshi Goto (Rikkyo Univ.) Hiderou Yoshida (Univ. of Hyogo) | Organelles are more flexible than previously thought, changing their structure and function dynamically in response to cellular demands. For instance, the Golgi membrane can directly become an isolation membrane for unconventional autophagy, or the plastid can become a gravity-sensing organelle called amyloplast. In this workshop, researchers conducting original research on organelles will come together to get a closer look on the reality of such a dynamic aspect of organelles. |
| WS04 | Frontiers in developmental cell lineage analysis |
Takuma Kumamoto (TMiMS) | 多細胞生物が複雑な組織を形成する過程において、幹細胞から最終分化した状態に至るまで、各細胞がどのような経緯を辿るかは、発生生物学における根本的かつ重要な疑問である。本ワークショップでは、細胞系譜解析の最先端の手法と、それを駆使して得られた発生生物学のブレイクスルーについて、新進気鋭の研究者による最新の研究事例を紹介する。 |
| WS05 | Exploring Biological Continuity from Embryo to Organism by Multi-Scale Approach | Tetsuya Takano (Kyushu Univ.) Katsuyoshi Takaoka (Tokushima Univ.) | The behavior, personality, and mental health of an individual organism are shaped by a series of biological processes that begin with embryogenesis, including cooperative and competitive interactions among embryonic cells and the development of the nervous system. These interactions are particularly critical for the construction of the adult nervous system and behavioral adaptation. However, traditional research on "embryogenesis," "neurogenesis," and "behavior" has often been conducted independently, leading to a lack of perspectives that integrate life phenomena across multidimensional time scales. This symposium will bring together researchers from embryogenesis, neurogenesis, and behavioral studies to share the latest findings. By approaching biological functions of organisms across both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives, the symposium aims to highlight the significance of life phenomena at multidimensional and multicellular levels throughout the lifespan of an organism. Furthermore, we hope to provide new insights into the lifelong establishment and maintenance of individual biological functions. |
| WS06 | The Blueprint of Complex and Functional Intracellular Structures | Daiki Kitagawa (Univ. of Tokyo) Toshiyuki Oda (Yamanashi Univ.) | Within cellular environments, biomolecules engage in self-organization processes, leading to the formation of highly structured entities that are crucial for various biological functions. This intricate process is not solely driven by intermolecular interactions but is also significantly influenced by spatial constraints imposed by molecular crowding and specific platform effects within the cellular microenvironment. The resulting supramolecular complexes exhibit distinct volumes and physical robustness, operating as finely tuned machineries. This workshop aims to present recent advancements in the realm of "biological cluster" research, with a specific focus on endeavors to bridge the disparity between structural data on protein complexes and their functional assemblies within cells. |
| WS07 | Dietology | Fumiaki Obata (RIKEN) | The food science is essential for life science, yet our understanding of its molecular mechanisms is still far from complete. This workshop will gather researchers who use nematodes, fruit flies, and mice to elucidate the dynamics and sensing mechanisms of nutrients, sharing their latest findings. Additionally, we aim to discuss new directions in dietology research that are relevant to animals in general, in conjunction with human epidemiological insights. |
| WS08 | Intra-cellular dynamics in zygotes and early embryos | Tomomi Kiyomitsu (OIST) Azusa Inoue (RIKEN) | During early development, intracellular components such as chromatin, nucleus, and cytoskeleton show dynamic remodeling. Recent advances in various technologies have enabled us to visualize and quantify these intracellular dynamics with high spatiotemporal precision, revealing some of the unique mechanisms of fertilized eggs and early embryos. In this workshop, we would like to introduce cutting-edge research using different perspectives, technologies, and organisms, and provide an opportunity to discuss the functional relationship between different cellular components and new research directions. |
| WS09 | Understanding, measuring and manipulating protein lifetimes | Shigeo Murata (Univ. of Tokyo) Yasushi Saeki (Univ. of Tokyo) | The regulation of protein lifetimes in cells governs a wide range of cellular functions, and disruptions in this regulation can lead to various diseases. Drug development targeting these regulatory mechanisms is advancing globally. However, key challenges remain, such as elucidating the molecular mechanisms and principles underlying protein lifetime regulation, developing techniques for precise and comprehensive measurement of protein lifetimes, and creating technologies to manipulate the lifetimes of specific proteins. In this workshop, young scientists will showcase the latest advances in their research at the cutting edge of these fields. |
| WS10 | New techniques and applications of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy for synaptic proteins | Hiroshi Kawabe (Gunma Univ.) Naoki Watanabe (Kyoto Univ.) | 日本発の超解像蛍光顕微鏡技術開発によって、細胞骨格やシナプスなどの構成タンパク質の観察技術が飛躍的に進歩した。たとえば、IRIS法により無限の多重染色が可能になり、DeQODE法によって長時間のライブイメージングが可能になった。また、膨張STED顕微鏡法によって組織内部のイメージングが可能になりつつある。本ワークショップでは、これらの超解像蛍光顕微鏡技術の発展と細胞生物学分野における応用について今後の方向性を論じる。 |
| WS11 | Light-Sheet Microscopy and Multidimensional Data Analysis for Elucidating Biological Functions | Tomoki Mitani (Osaka Univ.) Yuko Kiyosue (KMU) | Light sheet microscopy enables high-resolution, three-dimensional observation of diverse samples, including small organisms, organoids, and cleared organs, making it a powerful tool across various fields of study. The resulting data contains complex spatiotemporal and molecular information, challenging to analyze. This workshop introduces methods for analyzing such multidimensional data, focusing on applications for understanding biological processes like development and disease progression. |
| WS12 | Pioneering new frontiers in cell cycle research through cutting-edge technologies | Yuhei Goto (Kyoto Univ.) Yumi Konagaya (RIKEN) | The cell cycle, a fundamental field in life sciences, has long been considered a "mature" area due to the elucidation of its basic principles. However, recent applications of advanced imaging technologies, sequencing analysis, and machine learning are yielding new insights into conventional cell cycle models. This workshop explores new developments in the field through talks by up-and-coming researchers who employ cutting-edge technologies to provide innovative perspectives on the fundamental principles of the cell cycle. By showcasing these novel approaches, we aim to uncover fresh avenues of investigation in this essential biological process and stimulate discussions on the future directions of cell cycle research. |
| WS13 | Cross-Scale Approaches to Deciphering Life’s Dynamics and Formation | Masahide Kikkawa (Univ. of Tokyo) Sayaka Sekine (Tohoku Univ.) | 細胞や組織の形成過程では、分子スケールでの物理化学的な相分離から、組織スケールでの細胞移動まで、多層的なメカニズムが相互に関係している。学術変革領域「クロススケール新生物学」では、Cryo-EMやAFM、ライブイメージングを活用した最先端の解析技術を駆使して、これらの現象を多角的に研究している。本シンポジウムでは、スケール横断的な視点から得られた最新の知見を共有し、生命の動態と形成に関する新たな理解を深める。 |
| WS14 | Quality of Life Strategies for Aging Populations: Insights from 'Mechanically Responsive Cells' that Sustain a 'Moving Body' | Yoriko Atomi (Teikyo Univ.) Miho Shimizu (Teikyo Univ.) | As multicellular vertebrates and mammals, humans possess cells that self-organize and function autonomously within a complex hierarchy of cellular and bodily systems. Experimental models using simpler organisms and proteins cannot fully capture the nuanced, dual-level dynamics of cells and bodies that underpin human-specific traits, including upright bipedalism and complex cultures. This symposium will explore perspectives that bridge regenerative medicine and mechanobiology, aiming to illuminate the dynamic interactions between the human body and its cells. By integrating insights from both basic and applied sciences, we aim to address unresolved challenges such as cell therapies for intractable diseases, fall prevention in the elderly, and advances in preventive medicine and health sciences. |
| WS15 | Chronoproteinology: Temporal regulation of transcription, translation, protein and neural activity. | Hikaru Yoshitane (TMiMS) Shintaro Iwasaki (RIKEN) | This symposium is co-organized with Transformative Research Areas (A) "Chronoproteinology". The biological rhythms and timers count “time” on multiple scales from seconds to years, such as heartbeats, segmentation clock, circadian rhythms, seasonal responses, and bamboo flowering. We will introduce phenomena and the mechanisms of these biological rhythms and timers. |
| WS16 | Multicellular Blueprint: Intercellular Mechanochemical Synergy in the Fabrication of Multicellular Structures | Kosuke Mizuno (Osaka Univ.) Sayuki Hirano (Kyoto Univ.) | In multicellular organisms, biochemical signaling regulates tissue dynamics, including pattern formation and motility. Changes in the physical properties of cells, driven by alterations in multicellular dynamics, are converted into mechanical signals that feed back into signaling pathways. This workshop will introduce findings on tissue formation observed in in vitro models and various organisms, aiming to discuss the universality and diversity of these mechanisms. |
| WS17 | Imaging organelles: in memory of the late Dr. Kazuo Kurokawa | Imaging organelles: in memory of the late Dr. Kazuo Kurokawa | Innovations in imaging technology have led to significant discoveries in cell biology. Super-resolution Confocal Live Imaging Microscopy (SCLIM), developed by Dr. Akihiko Nakano’s lab at RIKEN, enables high-speed super-resolution imaging of live cells, enhancing our understanding of organelle dynamics and membrane traffic. This workshop will discuss SCLIM's research outcomes and future directions, while paying tribute to the late Dr. Kazuo Kurokawa, who led SCLIM observations for many years before passing away in April 2024. |
| SWS1 | Nuclear Pore Complex and Chromatin: Gatekeepers of Genome Regulation | Richard Wong (Kanazawa Univ.) Yuki Okada (Univ. of Tokyo) | This workshop will focus on the nuclear pore complex (NPC), a structure that bridges the nucleus and cytoplasm, as well as its components, known as nucleoporins, and the additional role of chromatin in cellular function. The NPC is a massive molecular assembly formed by approximately 1,000 copies of about 30 different types of nucleoporins. It serves as a small pore in the nuclear envelope, facilitating the transport of essential biomolecules, including proteins, RNA, and even chromatin-associated molecules, between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Recent studies have revealed that the NPC is a highly dynamic and functional structure, whose architecture and activity can change in response to various factors such as cellular development, differentiation, and environmental conditions. This workshop aims to provide an open forum for discussing recent insights and breakthroughs in NPC and nucleoporin research, as well as the emerging understanding of how these structures interact with chromatin. |
| SWS2 | Tuning Organelle Volume | Kazuo Yamamoto (Nagasaki Univ.) Yuki Hara (Yamaguchi Univ.) | A representative cell in our body contains micrometer-order of organelles and nanometer-order of biomolecules within tens micrometers of the cellular body. Cells achieve their functions to organize the interactions among these differently scaled elements and their sizes in harmony. In this workshop, we introduce bland-new studies focusing on the control of organelle volume (approximately equal size) harmonized with cell functions and discuss the meanings with you. |