—— RIKEN — MOLECULAR BIOREGULATION

Manipulating biological function with synthetic molecules

Increasing food production is an urgent challenge for sustaining human society. However, this goal is being hindered by various factors, including climate change. Our research team addresses this challenge through both chemical and biological approaches. By means of rational molecular design and screening of compound libraries, we generate novel molecules capable of regulating plant physiological functions. Using these molecules, we identify genes that are essential for stable food production and develop optimal strategies for controlling plant growth in diverse agricultural settings. Through this interdisciplinary research, we aim to uncover new avenues for solving global-scale challenges that could not be addressed by conventional methods, while also opening up new fields of study.
THEME 01
Chemical Control of Plant Reproduction
We aim to accelerate both breeding and basic research by using chemical approaches to control plant reproduction and flowering, thereby reducing the time constraints associated with crossing.
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THEME 02
Precise Control of Plant Hormone Signaling
By combining the bump-hole approach for receptor engineering with ligand design, we develop novel technologies to control hormone functions at the receptor level.
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THEME 03
Mechanisms and Control of Chloroplast Degradation
We investigate the mechanisms underlying chloroplast degradation and seek to improve crop yield and quality through artificial regulation of this process.
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― NEWS

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― OUR MISSION

Understanding Plant Signaling through Chemical Approaches and Applying It to Plant Control

Through rational molecular design and screening of chemical libraries, we create novel molecules that control biological phenomena. Using these molecules, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying life processes and aim to contribute to solving global-scale challenges such as food security and environmental issues.

1. Precision control of plant hormone signaling with synthetic molecules
Plant hormones — auxin, strigolactone, gibberellin, cytokinin, brassinosteroid, and others — govern plant growth and environmental responses. We aim to manipulate the hormone signals on demand using synthetic molecules. By designing engineered ligand–receptor pairs based on the three-dimensional structures of native receptors, we hijack endogenous signaling pathways to trigger specific hormone responses. This precision toolkit forms the molecular foundation of our research.
2. Understanding and controlling plant biology with chemical tools
We develop bespoke chemical tools to see, measure, and move what happens inside plants. Fluorescent probes that bind hormone receptors, quantitative assays for protein–protein interactions, and dye palettes that illuminate subcellular compartments are designed and synthesized in-house. We then deploy these tools to dissect signal transduction, autophagy-mediated quality control of organelles, and the regulation of cell fate. The mechanistic understanding we gain feeds directly back into the design of next-generation molecules that can perturb these processes precisely.
3. Plant chemical biology for the field
Our ultimate goal is to deliver the molecules and knowledge born in the laboratory to agricultural practice in the real world. Selective control agents for the parasitic weed Striga — a major threat to food production in sub-Saharan Africa — small molecules that accelerate plant breeding, and chemical tools for diagnosing crop quality: through such "molecules that work in the field," we aim to harness the power of chemistry to build a sustainable food future.

― FEATURED PUBLICATION

Publications

Microautophagy: current understanding of its molecular mechanisms and functions

Yasuyoshi Sakai, Christian Behrends, Jayanta Debnath, Masanori Izumi, Andreas Jenny,Maurizio Molinari, Shuhei Nakamura, Masahide Oku, Marisa S. Otegui, Laura Santambrogio, Han-Ming Shen, Tomohiko Taguchi, Michael Thumm,Takashi Ushimaru, Zhiping Xie, Ana Maria Cuervo and Fulvio Reggiori

  • AUTOPHAGY REPORTS 2026, VOL. 5, NO. 1, 2626661

Chloroplast stress caused by maltose hyperaccumulation activates chlorophagy via the core autophagy machinery

Sakuya Nakamura, Mayumi Wakazaki, Mayuko Sato, Kiminori Toyooka, Atsushi J Nagano, Hiroyuki Ishida, Shinya Hagihara, Masanori Izumi

  • Plant Physiol., 2026, kiag271

Development of the HTRF assay to evaluate the auxin-induced binding between TIR1 and IAA7

Jekson Robertlee, Shinya Hagihara

  • New Phytol., 2026, 250, 3475-3485

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― OUR TEAM

Members

Team Director
Shinya Hagihara
Senior Research Scientist
Masanori Izumi
Chloroplast degradation (autophagy) / Chlorophagy / Plant bioimaging
Senior Research Scientist
Shuhei Kusano
Organic synthetic chemistry / Chemical biology (development of chemical tools)

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― SNS · Updates

SNS

― WANTED

We Are Looking for the Next Generation of Researchers

We are recruiting graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to join our chemical biology research on plants. We welcome applicants from chemistry (molecular design and synthesis), molecular biology, cell biology, bioinformatics, and related fields. Regardless of prior specialization, we encourage anyone with curiosity and enthusiasm for research to apply.

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― ACCESS

Access

ADDRESS

2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198
S01, Room N401, RIKEN
Molecular Bioregulation Research Team

TRANSPORTATION

20-minute walk from Wako-shi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line
20-minute walk from Wako-shi Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line
20-minute walk from Wako-shi Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
10 minutes by bus from Nishi-Takashimadaira Station
Parking available (advance request required)

CONTACT

Tel: 048-462-1111
For inquiries regarding lab visits, collaborative research, or recruitment, please feel free to contact us via the inquiry form.

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