Hitoshi Ishiwata

Analysis on functionality and interaction of biomolecules using delta dope NV center

Researcher

Hitoshi Ishiwata

Outline

NV center in diamond emerged as a breakthrough material for quantum sensing. Its unique spin-dependent fluorescence combined with microwave coherent manipulation constitute a material platform for a quantum magnetometer. This atomic size sensor could be formed within nm from observation target allowing NMR measurement from nanoscale sample volume. However, its use for biological applications such as molecular dynamics analysis is limited by its sensitivity. In this research, I will work on technology development for biological measurements as well as NV center creation to increase sensitivity of NV center for realization of molecular dynamics analysis.

Takuro Ideguchi

Ultra-sensitive label-free imaging

Researcher

Takuro Ideguchi

Outline

Fluorescence imaging technique is widely used for visualizing chemical ingredients in biological cells or tissues. However, the bulky fluorescent probes often disturb the biological system. Therefore, it is inherently not possible to acquire images that reflect sample’s real condition. Label-free microscopes can solve the problem, but currently available techniques are not able to detect low-density molecules due to the lack of sensitivity. Here, I will develop an ultra-sensitive label-free microscope that can detects low-density molecules with high specificity.

Yuujiro Etou

Minimally invasive deep multiphoton spectroscopy using broadband squeezed light

Researcher

Yuujiro Etou

Outline

I aim to develop a bioimaging that break the performance limit of existing microscopic techniques by using quantum light sources. I will realize a minimally invasive deep multiphoton microscope by combining the squeezed light source and the technique of nonlinear optical microscope. In addition, I will open up a possibility to study the observation of coherent quantum phenomena using quantum light source.

Hirotaka Kitou

Explorations of Unknown Biological Electron Transfers and Their Roles in Biological Functions Using Quantum Simulation Techniques

Researcher

Hirotaka Kitou

Outline

Unknown electron-transfer reactions in proteins have a possibility to be involved in the famous but little-understood biological functions, such as the protection from oxidative damage, magnetoreception, olfaction, etc. This project explores the unknown biological electron transfers using the advanced quantum simulation techniques, which combines electronic structure calculations, reaction rate theories, and charge dynamics simulations. I will clarify the detailed microscopic mechanism of the biological functions mentioned above at the quantum mechanical level through the explorations of the unknown electron transfers in protein.

Kenji Shimazoe

Development of Multi-Photon Time-Space Correlated Imaging Method

Researcher

Kenji Shimazoe

Outline

PET and SPECT are important nuclear medicine imaging methods, however, it is not possible to realize multi-nuclide imaging or molecular interaction imaging. In this study a new nuclear medicine imaging method (MPECT Multi Photon Emission CT) is proposed and investigated based on the time-space correlation of multi-photon cascade gamma-rays to extract the local information in a body for achieving the molecular interaction imaging.

Mutsuo Nuriya

Imaging chemical signal transduction in the brain using multiphoton microscopy

Researcher

Mutsuo Nuriya

Outline

While playing key roles in cognitive functions, chemical transmitter have not been successfully visualized yet in the brain. This study aims at realizing this by taking the full advantages of multiphoton microscopy techniques. Results obtained from this study are expected to contribute to better understandings of physiology and pathophysiology of the brain, and the widely applicable novel technique developed in this project should greatly facilitate applications of quantum technologies to the whole fields of life sciences.

Yuu Hirano

High-resolution structure analysis of quantum phenomena in protein molecules

Researcher

Yuu Hirano

Outline

Hydrogen atoms and valence electrons are directly involved in various chemical reactions of protein molecules. Because hydrogens or electrons move through an energy barrier, quantum tunneling is thought to contribute in these reactions. Information about hydrogen atoms and valence electrons can be obtained by the complementary use of neutron and X-ray diffraction. The aim of this work is to elucidate structural bases of tunneling effects in the chemical reactions of proteins by using the high-resolution structure information.

Makiko Fujii

Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Cell Tissue using Reactive Quantum Beam

Researcher

Makiko Fujii

Outline

The novel quantum beam with highly reactive projectiles will be developed for enhancing the ionization probability of bio-molecules. The imaging mass spectrometric apparatus with the reactive quantum beam will be developed for acquiring mass images with both high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. The objective of this study is to realize the visualization of cell interior and the chemical reaction occur in the individual cell tissue.

Yoshihiro Maruyama

Quantum Information Theory of Life and Cognition: Categorical Formulations and their Applications

Researcher

Yoshihiro Maruyama

Outline

The central tenet of this project is to structurally integrate the logic of quantum physics/information with the logic of life/cognition by virtue of categorical foundations, and thereby to elucidate the higher structural laws that physics (matter) and life/cognitive sciences (living mind) have in common (notwithstanding that they have unfortunately been separated since the rise of Cartesian dualism). The fundamental links thus exposed would allow us to effectively transport quantum knowledge into the realm of life/cognition, yielding fundamental insights into the structural nature of life/cognition whilst boosting applications of quantum physics/information to life/cognitive sciences.

Tomoyasu Manni

Plane-selection optical imaging by magnetically responsive optical probes

Researcher

Tomoyasu Manni

Outline

Optical probes whose molecular emission can be controlled by weak external magnetic fields may enable the development of new optical imaging technologies in life science. Magnetic control of molecular emission can be achieved by incorporating a magnetically sensitive intermediate species such as radical pairs into a photophysical pathway. This project aims to establish the design principles of a single molecular system that exhibits magnetic field effects on charge-transfer emission, and to achieve a proof-of-principle for a new imaging method.

Eiichi Mizohata

Dynamic structure-function relationship of metalloenzyme visualized by time-resolved XFEL crystallography

Researcher

Eiichi Mizohata

Outline

Using X-ray free electron laser, I aim to completely elucidate the dynamic structure-function relationship of a metalloenzyme with high precision through visualizing the whole picture of the three-dimensional structural change, which occurs from moment to moment during catalytic reaction, under damage-free and room-temperature conditions. In the course of this research, I will develop a switch system of time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography as a new analytical foundation in enzyme chemistry and create a new life science that gives innovative knowledge.

Hiroshi Watanabe

The development and the applications of the seamless analysis of protein dynamics with incorporated quantum chemical effect

Researcher

Hiroshi Watanabe

Outline

Water molecules entering and leaving the proteins are closely related to the protein functions. Quantum chemical effects play a major pole in dynamics of such water molecules. However, the present molecular simulations cannot incorporate the quantum chemical effect of the water molecules in dynamics analysis. To challenge the limitation, in the present study, we plan to establish new simulation framework, and demonstrate its performance applying it to protein analyses