Research Director: Tsutomu Suzuki
(Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
Research Term: Oct 2020 - Mar 2026
Grant Number: JPMJER2002

This project aims to unveil physiological roles of RNA modifications associated with fundamental biological processes. We search for novel RNA modifications from human cells and other organisms, and determine their chemical structures by RNA mass spectrometry. We are also developing nanopore sequencing of RNA modifications assisted by neural networks and deep learning. In this project, we identify novel RNA-modifying enzymes and their genes, and study biogenesis and physiological function of the RNA modifications by generating knockout mice. We aim to elucidate molecular pathogenesis of “RNA modopathies”, human diseases caused by abnormal RNA modification. Furthermore, we attempt to control cellular processes by artificially manipulating RNA modifications, thereby establishing a technological basis for future drug discovery and therapeutic measures.

Research Groups

- Biochemistry Group
- Physiology Group
- Bioinformatics Group
- Single-Molecule Analysis Group

Project Headquarters

Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology,
Graduate School of Engineering,
the University of Tokyo,
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan