The University of Tokyo, GPES

Profile

2005-2009 Biophysics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo

2009-2014 Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

2014-2019 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University

2019-present Associate professor, Department of Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo

2020-present Associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo (jointly appointed)

Research Interests

Our laboratory is mainly interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying the complex function of membrane receptors, channels, and transporters. We combine structural, computational, biophysical, biochemical, and electrophysiological techniques to understand how these membrane proteins work. We also aim to develop novel proteins with useful properties (biotechnology development) and small molecules and peptides with beneficial therapeutic properties (drug design) using structure-guided approaches.

Selected Publications

1.Kishi KE, Kim YS, Fukuda M, Inoue M, Kusakizako T, Wang PY, Ramakrishnan C, Byrne EFX, Thadhani E, Paggi JM, Matsui TE, Yamashita K, Nagata T, Konno M, Quirin S, Lo M, Benster T, Uemura T, Liu K, Shibata M, Nomura N, Iwata S, Nureki O, Dror RO, Inoue K, Deisseroth K, Kato HE. Structural basis for channel conduction in the pump-like channelrhodopsin ChRmine. Cell 185, 672-689 (2022)

2.Kato HE, Zhang Y, Hu H, Suomivuori CM, Kadji FMN, Aoki J, Krishna Kumar K, Fonseca R, Hilger D, Huang W, Latorraca NR, Inoue A, Dror RO, Kobilka BK, Skiniotis G. Conformational transitions of a neurotensin receptor 1-Gi1 protein complex. Nature 572, 80-85 (2019)

3.Kato HE, Kim YS, Paggi JM, Evans KE, Allen WE, Richardson C, Inoue K, Ito S, Ramakrishnan C, Fenno LE, Yamashita K, Hilger D, Lee SY, Berndt A, Shen K, Kandori K, Dror RO, Kobilka BK, Deisseroth K. Structural mechanisms of selectivity and gating in anion channelrhodopsins. Nature 561, 349-354 (2018)

4.Kato HE, Inoue K, Abe-Yoshizumi R, Kato Y, Ono H, Konno M, Hososhima S, Ishizuka T, Hoque MR, Kunitomo H, Ito J, Yoshizawa S, Yamashita K, Takemoto M, Nishizawa T, Taniguchi R, Kogure K, Maturana AD, Iino Y, Yawo H, Ishitani R, Kandori H, Nureki O. Structural basis for Na+ transport mechanism by a light-driven Na+ pump. Nature 521, 48-53 (2015)

5.Kato HE, Zhang F, Yizhar O, Ramakrishnan C, Nishizawa T, Hirata K, Ito J, Aita Y, Tsukazaki T, Hayashi S, Hegemann P, Maturana AD, Ishitani R, Deisseroth K, Nureki O. Crystal structure of the channelrhodopsin light-gated cation channel. Nature 482, 369-74 (2012)