｜Research
Our laboratory focuses on the role of epigenetics (the memory system of cells) in the brain (the memory system of individuals). In the future, our research will contribute to understanding the mechanisms of functional changes in the brain caused by aging, stress, and psychiatric disorders.
Our genetic information is encoded in our genomic DNA. Several mechanisms are used to properly identify and access the necessary genetic information contained within our three billion base pairs of DNA. One of these mechanisms is epigenetic regulation. Through epigenetic regulation, chemical modifications on DNA and histones—such as methylation and acetylation—function as “bookmarks,” resulting in the expression of only the necessary genes.
These epigenetic “bookmarks” are modified in response to the cell’s previous exposures to stimuli and experiences. In other words, epigenetic regulation functions as the memory system of cells. The question then becomes, what role does epigenetics play in the brain, which is the memory system of individuals?
In our laboratory, we are working to understand the mysteries of the brain through epigenetic analysis by combining the biochemical, molecular biological, and bioinformatics technologies needed to carry out the latest genomic analysis with the genetic and neuroscience technologies necessary to analyze brain function. Through this research, we aim to understand the basis of changes in brain function caused by aging, stress, and psychiatric disorders.