Neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, acetylcholine, and glutamate, are involved in emotion, motivation, and cognitive functions. These neurotransmitters are thought to be deeply involved in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Our research group is comprehensively analyzing the phosphorylation events that occur downstream of neurotransmitters to reveal the molecular basis of higher brain functions such as emotional behavior, learning, and memory,and developing Kinase-associated neural phospho-signaling database (KANPHOS; https://kanphos.neuroinf.jp).Our goal is to elucidate the etiology and pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders, and to develop new therapeutic approaches.

Kozo Kaibuchi, M.D. Ph.D. Professor & Director

Biography of Director/Professor Kozo Kaibuchi
Kozo Kaibuchi started his undergraduate training in biochemistry in the laboratory of Professor Yasutomi Nishizuka at Kobe University and graduated in 1980 as a medical doctor. He continued his biochemistry training in the same laboratory during his M.D./Ph.D. course, based on protein kinase C research, and received his degree in 1984. He moved to the DNAX Research Institute of Molecular Cellular Biology in the USA in 1985 to carry out postdoctoral research focusing on molecular genetic analysis of Ras and protein kinase C. He moved back to Kobe University as a junior faculty member in 1987 and investigated small GTPases, including Rho and Rab. He was appointed as a full professor in 1994 at Nara Institute of Science and Technology. He found several effectors of the Rho family of GTPases, including Rho-kinase, and demonstrated that Rho-kinase regulates cell contractility through myosin phosphorylation. In 2000, he moved to Nagoya University, where he found that CRMP-2 acts as a neuronal substrate of Rho-kinase to control neuronal polarity. He extended his neuronal polarity research by analyzing how extracellular and intracellular signals regulate neuronal polarity both in vitro and in vivo. In 2021, he moved his laboratory to Fujita Health University to focus on clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying higher brain functions. Recently, he developed a novel phosphoproteomic approach that comprehensively screens for substrates of protein kinases (ex. Rho-kinase, PKA, PKC and MAPK) to analyze how neurotransmitters, including dopamine, regulate neuronal excitability and emotional behaviors. Based on this approach, he also constructed a kinase-associated neural phospho-signaling database (KANPHOS; https://kanphos.neuroinf.jp).
He has been awarded: Tokai Yomiuri Medical Award (2008), Tokizane Memorial Award (2009), Chunichi Cultural Award (2011), Ebashi Memorial Award (2015) and Medal with Purple Ribbon (2017).

Daisuke Tsuboi, Ph.D. Senior Assistant Professor

I have been working on elucidating the molecular pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. If you have any questions about signal transduction, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yasuhiro Funahashi, Ph.D. Senior Assistant Professor

I have been studying the molecular mechanisms by which neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and glutamate, regulate neuronal plasticity and excitability. I would like to elucidate the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and addiction, and to develop treatments for them.

Tomoki Nishioka, Ph.D. Senior Assistant Professor

My goal is to clarify signal transduction dynamics in cells and tissues by a phospho-proteomics approach using mass spectrometry.

Yukie Yamahashi, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

My research interest is to elucidate the intracellular acetylcholine signaling in the brain using biochemical, molecular, and cell biological methods. In the future, I would like to extend my study to elucidate the molecular basis of CNS disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, ultimately aiming at developing therapeutic strategies.