NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR BASIC BIOLOGYa • ~ t.J ~ if 1: m lll*llillL~I&Jif!:ll•1987

BRIEF SUMMARYThe National Institute for Basic Biology, NIBB, is a part the Okazaki National
Research Institutes located on a hill overlooking the old town of Okazaki. The
research institute is composed of three independent organizations, National
Institute for Basi Biology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, andInstitute for Molecular Science.
NIBB is an interuniversity research institute with its own research programs
as well as cooperative programs to promote basic biology in Japan . The programsare 1) joint research programs in which university scientists are invited toparticipate in research projects with NIBB members. 2) facility-sharing programs inwhich university scientists utilize the institute's research resources. 3) graduate
student training programs in which graduate students from universities spend
fixed periods of time with the NIBB. and 4) international programs in which
foreign scientists are invited to NIBB to conduct research projects.

P!lOF. T. S. OKADAINTRODUCTION
The National Institute for Bas1c B1ology (NIBB) alms to facilitate
basic research in the biological sc1ences in Japan by conducting
advanced studies to elucidate various fundamental mechanisms
underlying living organisms. Research areas include studies of cell
growth, development and differentiation. and control of various cellfunctions. among others. The ultimate goal is to understand themechan1sm of phenomena in eukaryot1c organisms at the molecularlevel. Analytical approaches include biophysical. cell biological. andmolecular techniques. incorporating the latest methods of genemanipulation.
The NIBB. is an inter-university research institute, and as suchhas a two-fold miss1on: (1) to conduct in-house research and (2) tomake the facility available for collaboration with scientists outside
the NIBB. Thus. the NIBB is an "open " institute. The Institutecontains three departments, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology,
and Regulation Biology, which are divided into 13 div1s1ons. Eachdivision is staffed by a full professor. an associate professor andtwo research associates. S1x of the professional appomtments areadjunct professorships; these individuals have jomt appointments atother institutes in Japan. The NIBB sponsors jomt research
programs with participating individuals or research groups nat1onallyand internationally.
The NIBB provides an opportunity to share reseach resourcesamong biologists in Japan and from abroad. It also sponsors
symposia on current topics at the mterdiSCiplinary level by mv1tmg
participation by leading scientists m vanous related f1elds, both fromins1de Japan and abroad. Thus. the NIBB 1s becoming and w1ll
continue to be an internationally recognized facility for conductmg
basic research in the biological sciences

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ORGANIZATION OF THE INSTITUTEThe Okazaki National Research Institutes. ONRI, are composed of three individual Institutes. NIBB. Institute for Molecular Science (IMS). andNational Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS) . The president of ONRI is Prof. Saburo Nagakura. IMS and NIPS are headed by Professors Hiroo
lnokuchi and Setsuro Ebashi, respectively.

Policy and Decision Making
The Director General overseas the operation of the instituteassisted by two advisory bodies. the Advisory Council and Steering
Council. The Advisory Council is made up of distinguished scholars
representing various fields of science and culture. and advises the
Director General on the basic policy of the institute. The Steering
Council is made up of professors of the institute and an equal
number of professors from other leading universities in Japan. andadvises the Director General on the scientific activities of theinstitute. The Council advises on faculty appointments and on theinstitute's annual budget.

Administration
Administration of the institute is undertaken by the Administration
Bureau of the Okazaki National Research Institutes under the direct
auspices of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
Currently the chief administrator is Mr. Kiyoshi Inoue.

Research
The institute conducts its research programs through three departments organized into 13 divisions. Each division has its own
research project and is staffed by a professor, an associate
professor and two research associates. A division forms a project
team and is expected to be reorganized when a division's project iscompleted. Half of the divisions are for adjunct professorship andare under professors who hold joint appointment w1th other4

univers1t1es. The adjunct division has resident research associates.
The arrangement aims to facilitate exchange of research activities inJapan.
Technical Department manages the activities of research techniquesand help to promote research activities of each division and also tomaintain the research resources of the institute. The department
undertakes the techmcal education of its staff.

Research Support Facility
The research support facilities of NIBB consist of the Large-scale
Spectrograph Laboratory, Tissue and Cell Culture Laboratory, Laboratory Computer Facility, Plant Culture Facility, Plant Cell Culture
Facility, and Experimental Farm. In addition, seven facilities areoperated jointly with the National Institute of Physiological Sc1ences ;they consist of the Radioisotope Facility, Electron Microscope
Center, Center for Analytical Instruments, Machine Shop, Laboratory
Glassware Facility, Animal Care Facility, and Low-Temperature
Facility.

CampusThe Okazaki National Research Institute covers an area of 150,000
m 2 with four principal buildings. The NIBB's main .research building
has a floor space of 10,930 m 2 . Two-thirds of the space wascompleted in 1982 and the remaining third in June, 1983. The
buildings to house research support facility was also completed inJune 1983.

DEPARTMENT
OF CELL BIOLOGY
Chairman: Yoshihiko Fujita
Two research divisions and three adjunct research divisions are
conducting research on the structure and function of cells at themolecular level.

Division of Cell Mechanisms
Professor: to be appointed.
Associate Professor: Toshiyuki Nagata
Research Associate: Shigeyuki Kawano
Kazuo Ogawa
A new professor will be appointed to this division, which washeaded by Professors Noboru Kamiya and Tsuneyoshi Kuroiwa .

Division of Bioenergetics
Professor: Voshihiko Fujita
Associate Professor: Shigeru ltoh
Research Associate: Mamoru Mimuro
Kaori Ohki
Mechanisms involved in energy conversion in photosynthesis havebeen investigated. Special attention has been paid to the mechanism of homeostasis in the .photosynthetic energy conversion
system. The study has been conducted with algal systems andfocused on the regulatory change of the composition of the energy
conversion system in response to the light. The mechanisms of
excitation energy transfer 1n the light-harvesting antenna and of thephotochemical reaction in the reaction centers have also been
investigated with isolated functional protein complexes .

Division of Cell Fusion (Adjunct)
Professor: Tsuyoshi Uchida
Associate Professor: Masaru Yamaizumi
Research Associate: Masahiro lshiura
Kenji Kohno
Molecular and cellular biology of mammalian cells including humancells. aided by cell engineering and recombinant DNA technology,
are the research projects of this division. In relation to the action
mechanism for diphtheria toxin in mammalian cells. currently, thestructure and function of the elongation factor-2 (EF-2) involved in
the protein synthesizing system of mammalian cells have been
extensively studied at the molecular level using cloned EF-2 genes.
Cosmid cloning has been established by constructing simplified
cosmid vectors and selecting adequate E. coli. Elucidation of themechanism for DNA repair in mammalian cells is also in progress.

Division of Cellular Communication(Adjunct)
Professor: Yoshiro Shimura
Associate Professor: Kenzo Nakamura
Research Associate: Kiyotaka Okada
The division pursues molecular biological as well as genetic
analyses on gene regulation mechanisms of higher plants. especiallyArabidopsis thaliana, a small crucifer. Our interests are on thegenes whose expressions depend on developmental stages or on
specific tissues. and genes which respond to environmental stimuli
such as light and temperature . We are also interested in the genes
responsible to cell division and RNA processing procedures.

5Division of Cell Proliferation (Adjunct)
Professor: Vasuhira Anraku
Associate Professor: to be appointed.
Research Associate: to be appointed.
The division conducts research into the mechanisms of cellproliferation and cell division cycle through genetic, biochemical, andmorphological approaches. Main projects are to explore the genetic
systems and molecular mechanisms of calcium control of organeJie
biogenesis, mitosis, and cytoskeleton network.

DEPARTMENT
OF DEVELOPMENTAL
BIOLOGY

animals, particularly the hormonal control of oocyte growth, oocyte
maturation and ovulation. These studies combine biochemical,
ultrastructural and physiological approaches. Research centersaround oocyte maturation in teleosts and starfish. In these animals,
our previous studies have established that three major mediators
are involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation : gonadotropin(GTH) or gonad-stimulating substance (GSS). maturation-inducing
substance (MIS) and maturation-promoting factor (MPF). These.
three mediators function sequentially at the levels of the follicle
layer, the oocyte surface and the oocyte cytoplasm, respectively.
Currently our research is concerned with (1) the characterization
and/or synthesis of teleost GTH and starfish GSS, (2) the molecularmechanisms of biosynthesis of salmonid MIS, 17a, 20{3-dihydroxy-4pregnen-3-one, and starfish MIS, 1-methyladenine, in ovarian follicle
cells, (3) the characterization of GTH receptors located on salmonid
ovarian follicle cells, {4) the characterization of the MIS receptors
located on the oocyte surface, and (5) the characterization andfunction of MPF.

Division of Cell Differentiation
Chairman: Goro Eguchi
The department is composed of three research divisions and one
adjunct research division, and conducts research into the cellularand molecular mechanisms of various processes that are involved indevelopmental phenomena.

Division of Reproductive Biology
Professor: Voshitaka Nagahama
Associate Professor: to be appointed.
Research Associate: Hiroko Shirai
Takeo Kishimoto
The division conducts research on the cellular and molecularmechanisms of formation and release of gametes in multicellular

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Professor: Voshiaki Suzuki
Associate Professor: to be appointed.
Research Associate: Shigeharu Takiya
Toshiharu Suzuki
Members of the division have been analyzing developmental
regulation of the tissue-specific genes and the homeotic genes inBombyx mori. The silk fibroin gene starts to be transcribed
specifically in the posterior si lk gland cells as soon as the si lk glandmorphogenesis has been accomplished in a late embryonic stage,and is repeatedly switched on and off in the following stages. To
analyze the molecular mechanisms of th is tissue- and stage-specificregulation of transcription, we have developed cell-free transcription
systems from several tissues al'ld cultured cells. Using thesesystems we have detected tissue-specific factor(s) that transacts onthe distal region of the upstream sequence of fibroin gene.
Currently we are concerned with how synthesis and specificity of
the factor(s) are regulated. In Bombyx mori, more than 20 homeotic
mutants that mapped to the proximal end of the 6th linkage group
had been described as the "E-group" during the period of 1930 and1960 in Japan. They exhibit a variety of developmental abnormalities
in organogenesis in various body segments. and in most cases
homozygosity of the mutant gene results in embryonic lethality.
These genes are probably regulating some structural genes thatplay important roles in pattern formation. We have cloned some ofthese homeotic genes in order to analyze the molecular events
during embryonic development and hopefully to clarify the relationship between these regulatory genes and those structural genes
such as fibroin gene that is expressed tissue-specifically.

Division of Morphogenesis
Professor: Goro Eguchi
Associate Professor: Kenji Watanabe
Research Associate: Ryuji Kodama
Kiyokazu Agata
Mechanisms of differentiation and morphogenesis in multicellularorganization have been investigated at cellular and molecular levels.
The research has been currently focused on the following threeprojects. (1) The cell culture experimental system of chick embryo
pigment epithelial cells (PECs) has been established. This system
can produce a multipotential dedifferentiated state of PECs, which
is able to redifferentiate to lens cells or pigment cells. By thissystem envi ronmental factors controlling the transdifferentiation
have been analyzed. particularly focussing on the structural andfunctional changes of the cell surface relating to dedifferentiation
and redifferentiation of the PEC. The molecular mechanism ofspecific gene expression has also been analyzed in the same
system. (2) The mechanisms of pattern formation and stabilization of8

two dimensional epithelial tissue structures have been investigatedin vivo as well as in vitro experimental systems by computer
graphics. electron microscopy, micromanipulation and biochemical
techniques. Such approaches have also been extended to analyze
morphogenesis of three-dimensional tissue structures.
In addition to these two projects. (3) cell changes during morphogenesis of three-dimensional tissue structures have been analyzed in eye lens systems in vivo and in vitro, particularly focussing
on the cell surface functions.

Division of Developmental Biology(Adjunct)
Professor: lkuo Takeuchi
Associate Professor: Masaki lwabuchi
Research Associate: Masao Tasaka
Regulation of development has been investigated at cellular andmolecular levels with the developmental system of the cellularslime molds. Currently, research is being carried out along thefollowing three lines: (1) Cloning and analysis of genes specifically
expressed in pathways of spore and stalk cell differentiation andeluc1dation of the regulatory mechanisms of their expression. (2)Analysis of non-histone chromatin proteins with the hope of theirinvolvement in regulation of cell-type specific gene expression. (3)Analysis of cell movement during formation of differentiation pattern
within the tissue and elucidation of the mechanism of cell sorting.

DEPARTMENT
OF REGULATION BIOLOGY
Chairman: Ken-ichi Naka
The department has two divisions and two adjunct divisions. andconducts research on the information processing and control
mechanisms in biological systems.

Division of Sensory Processing
Professor: Ken-ichi Naka
Associate Professor: Shozo Vasui
Research Associate: Hiroko Sakai
Eiki Hida
This division's research activity is focused on information processingin the vertebrate visual system and is a continuation of researchoriginating at the California Institute of Technology in 1968 and thenconducted at th e University of Texas at Galveston in 1977. This
research is characterized by unique choice of preparation as well asof methodology. Our principal preparation is the retina of channel
catfish. /ctalurus punctatus. The retina is very simply organized andour effort has made it one of the most extensively analyzed
components in the central nervous system. We have also pioneered
the application of the Wiener's theory on nonlinear analysis or
white-noise analysis. Our application is the most extensive exampleof the use of Wiener's theory.
Our analysis has shown that information processing in the retina iscomposed of three stages: 1) Piecewise linearization in the outerretrna, 2) generation of static nonlinearities in the amacrine cells.
and 3) encoding of processed information into spike trains.
In the more classic field of morphology, we have discovered three
new synapses. a) the synapse made by the horizontal cells back to

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the receptors. b) the synpase made by the horizontal cells onto theamacrine cells, and c) the synapse made by the ganglion-cell
dendrites.

Division of Cellular Regulation
Professor: Norio Murata
Associate Professor: Hideaki Nakashima
Research Associate: Takao Kondo
Mitsue Miyao
lkuo Nishida
This division studies two important phenomena in higher plants andmicroalgae : (1) The molecular mechanisms of low-temperaturesensitivity and adaptation to temperature stress. (2) The structureand function of chloroplast membrane proteins in photosynthesis.
The temperature work emphasizes the participation of biologicalmembranes and membrane lipids. The enzymes which produce
special lipid molecules that are responsible for the low-temperaturesensitivity and their genes are under investigation. The photosynthesis research focusses on the machinery of the oxygen-evolving
complex. The ultimate goal of this research is to elucidate thethree-dimensional structure of the oxygen-evolving complex.

Division of Biological Regulation (Adjunct)
Professor: Hidemasa lmaseki
Associate Professor: to be appointed.
Research Associate: Kotaro Yamamoto
Satoru Tokutomi
The research in this division aims to study responses of plants toenvironmental stimuli at the biochemical and molecular levels.
Special attention is paid to the developmental changes of cellfunctions during conversion of immature leaves to mature leaves ofleguminous plants as affected by light. plant hormones and ageing.
and to mechanisms of acquisition of thermotolerance by a temporal
treatment at a high temperature .

TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
Head: Hachiro Honda

Division of Behavior and Neurobiology(Adjunct)
Professor: Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
Research Associate: Takaai Tamura
In our research division. we are studying the mechanism ofdevelopment. growth. and differentiation of the mammalian nervous
system at the molecular level. The main themes of our division are :(1) Studies on myelin-deficient mutant animals.
e have produced several mutants with abnormalities at different steps ofmyelinogenesis. We are studying myelination as a typical morphogenetic phenomenon in the central nervous system. and also as
a neuron-glia inter-relationship.
(2) Studies on the mechanism of brain specific gene expression .
We are studying these subjects with both in vitro and invivo systems. In the in vitro system. we are studying promoter
activity of myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP)
genes by cell-free transcription assays. In the in vitro system. weare utilizing the cells from a neurological mutant mouse termed
shiverer. The shiverer mouse is characterized by the absence of
MBP. Most of the MBP gene is deleted. We are studying themechanism of MBP gene expression by introducing the MBP gene
into various types of the cells in shiverer.
(3) Studies on the function of brain-specific proteins.
Brainspecific proteins. such as MBP. PLP. and neurofilament (NF) wereartificially expressed in various strains of cell lines Including NIH3T3
cells by retrovirus vector mediated gene transfer. Localization andeffect of protein production on morphology have been investigated.

The Technical Department is a supporting organization for researchers and reseach organizations within the NIBB. The department
develops and promotes the institute's research activities and. at thesame time. maintains the research functions of the institute.
The department is organized into two groups : one. the Common
Facility group. which supports and maintains the institute's common
research facilities and the other. the Research Support group, whichassists the research activities.
Technicians participate. through the department. in promoting theircapability through mutual enlightenment and education so that theircapability in technical areas develops.

Hachiro Honda
Head:
Staff:
Common Facility Group
Tissue and Cell Culture Laboratory:
Masahiro Kawaguchi
Large-Scale Spectrograph Laboratory:
Mamoru Kubota
Experimental Farm: Chieko Nanba
Laboratory Computer Facility:
Masahiro Nasu
Radioisotope Facility:
Kazuhiko Furukawa
Vukie Shinohara
Kanako Funadera
Center for Analytical Instruments:
Hiroyuki Hattori (Chief)
Hiroko Kajiura

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Hisashi Kojima
Hisaya Uemura
Laboratory Glassware Facility:
Toshiki Ohkawa
Research Support Group
Department of Cell Biology:
Akio Murakami
Soichi Nakamura
Masayo lwaki
Department of Developmental Biology:
Shinji Adachi
Kaoru Kato
Mayumi Nasu
Miyuki Oda
Noriko Sakurai
Department of Regulation Biology:
Yu-ichiro Ando
Yohko Fujimura
Soh Hidaka

RESEARCH RESOURCE
There are four categories of research support facilities available toresearch members and visiting biological scientists: 1) Campus-wide
facilities (CENTRAL COMPUTING CENTER and LIBRARY). 2) NIBS's
own research support facilities (R!:SEARCH SUPPORT FACILITY.
intramural). 3) facilities jointly maintained by the NIPS and the NIBB
but managed either by the NIPS (ANIMAL-CARE FACILITY) or by
the NIBB (RADIOISOTOPE FACILITY). 4) facilities jointly run by
NIPS and NIBB (CENTER for ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS. ELEC-

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TRON MICROSCOPE CENTER, LABORATOR GLASSWARE FACILITY. MACHINE SHOP and LOW-TEMPERATURE FACILITY).

RESEARCH SUPPORTFACILITYHead of Facility: Yoshiaki Suzuki
Faculty: Masakatsu Watanabe (Spectrograph)
Yoshio Hamada (Tissue and Cell Culture)
The facility maintains large-scale experimental equipments andfacilities for growing and maintaining biological specimens. The
facility is shared among the research members, and has fivelaboratories.
The large-scale spectrograph laboratory: This laboratory has thelargest spectrograph in the world custom-built by Naka works.
HITACHI Ltd. The spectrograph runs on a 30KW-Xenon arc lamp
and has a compound grating-surface composed of 36 smaller
individual grating. A computer controls t e positioning and timescheduled light exposures of 12 speciment boxes.
Tissue and cell culture laboratory: This is a facility for tissue andcell culture. This laboratory is equipped with safety rooms which
satisfy the P3 physical containment level. This facility is routinely
used for DNA recombination experiments.
Laboratory computer facility: The NIBS's computing is handled by aDigital Equipment Corporation's VAX 111780 computer with a
Floating Point System AP120B array processor and a Spatial Data's
image digitizer. An extensive software system for time-series
analysis is available as well as a limited number of image
processing routines .

Plant Culture facility : There are large number of culture boxes,
cubicles, and a limited number of rooms with environmental control
for plant culture .
Expe rimental farm: This facility consists of two 20 m 2 . glasshouses with precision temperature ahd humidity control. a limited
farm, a large {88 m 2 ) and a small {45 m 2 ) green house with
automatic sprinklers and window control, two {30- and 50-ton) open
aquariums and several smaller tanks. The facility also includes abuilding with office. storage and work-space .
Plant Cell Culture Facility : Autotrophic and heterotrophic culture
devices are equipped for experimental cultures of plant andmicrobial cells.

RESEARCH FACILITIESRADIOISOTOPE FACILITIES(managed by NIBB)Head of Facility: Yoshihiko Fujita
Faculty: Kohji Hasunuma
The facility is composed of a center and two subcenters, one in
NIBB and the other in NIPS. The facility is being used for molecularanalyses of eukaryotes. At the center a variety of radioisotopes
such as 3 H, 14 C. 22 Na. 32 P. 35 S, 45 Ca dnd 125 1 are mainly handled aswell as various species of beta and gamma-ray emitting nucleides.
A P3-level laboratory for recombinant DNA research is included in
the center facilities. At the substations. only a limited variety ofradioisotopes such as 3 H, 14 C and 32 P are processed. The
substation in NIBB is equipped with a P2-level recombinant DNA
research laboratory. The members of the Radioisotope Facility
maintain and control the centers. and give users appropriate
guidance for radioi sotope handling . The facility members conduct
also their own research on the analysis of mutants in themetabolism of cyclic nucleotides in Neurospora crassa. The mutants

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exhibit several characteristic features such as rhythmic: conidiation,
sensitivity to light, lack in the production of protoperithecium andabnormality in meiosis. The goal of the research is to isolate andcharacterize the genes for the regulation of cyclic nucleotides with
DNA recombination techniques .

ANIMAL-CARE FACILITIES(managed by NIPS)
Vivarium: This is a 2,000 m 2 building for maintaining land animals.
including insects. Operations and experiments of a limited scope
may be performed in the vivarium.
Aquarium : This is a 600 m 2 facility for both fresh- and sea-water
animals. There are 10 ten-ton and 31 0.5-ton tanks in addition to
one seven-ton and one two-ton circular tanks. All tanks areindividually temperature controlled and are supplied either with
deionized water or seawater. There is a lorry with a one-tontemperature-controlled tank to transport aquatic animals and plants.

RESEARCH FACILITIES RUNJOINTLY WITH THE NIPSELECTRONMICROSCOPE CENTER
This facility maintains the following microscopes for the use by theinstitute's members as well as researchers from other universities
and research institutions.
Transmission microscope: Hitachi H-500 125KV. JOEL 100-CX and
200-CX 100 and 200KV and Philips EM-400HM 120KV.
Transmission scope, analytical : JOEL 200-CX. 200KV.
Scanning scope: Hitachi S-450 25KV.

CENTER FOR ANALYTICALINSTRUMENTS
Head of Facility: Norio Murata
The Center for Analytical Instruments consists of the following fivesections. (1) Chemical analysis, (2) Preparation of Biological Materials. (3) Spectroscopic analysis, (4) Physical analysis. and (5)Microscopic analysis. Each section is equipped with instruments forgeneral use as listed below.
1. Sections for Chemical Analysis
Amino Acid Analyzer
HPLC
Peptide Sequence Analyzer
Peptide Synthesizer

HITACHI 835
JASCO TRIROTAR Ill
JOEL JAS-47K
BECKMAN 990C

2. Section for Preparation of Biological Materials
Coulter Counter
COULTRE ZB
lsotachophoresis System
LKB 2127 TACHOPHOR
Preparative Ultracentrifuge
BECKMAN L8-80
Two Parameter Cell Sorter
BECTON-DICKINSON
FACS-11Spectropolarimeter
4. Section for Physical Analysis
Analytical Ultracentrifuge
Differential Scanning
Calorimeter
EPR Spectrometer
GC Mass Spectrometer
Superconductive FT-MNR
Spectrometer
Viscometer

HITACHI 330
JASCO J-40S

HITACHI 282
PERKIN-ELMER DSC-2
BRUKER ER 200D
HITACHI M-80
BRUKER WM 360 wb
CONTRAVES RM-30

5. Section for Microscopic Analysis
2-Dimension
Microdensitometer
JOYCE LOEBL 3CS
NAC MOVIAS GP-2000
Film Data Analysis System
KONTRON MOP-AM03
Image Analyzer
KONTRON IBAS-1.11
Interactive Image Analyzer
CARL ZEISS MPM 03-F L
Microscope Photometer

3. Section for Spectroscopic Analysis
Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer
PERKIN-ELMER 603
Differential Refractometer
CHROMATIX KMX-16
Dual-wavelength.
Spectrophotometer
HITACHI 557
Infrared Spectrophotometer
JASCO A-302
Laser-Roman
Spectrophotometer
JASCO R-800
Light Scattering Photometer
CHROMATIX KMX-6DC
Spectrofluorometer
HITACHI MPF-4
Spectrophotometer
CILFORD 250

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COOPERATIVE RESEARCH ACTIVITIESThe NIBB sponsors four cooperative research acttvities.
Individual and group cooperative research program : Scientists from other Japanese universities andresearch institutes are invited to undertake joint research projects with the institute's members.
Limited funds are available for travel and expenditures related to the projects.
Research conferences: The NIBB sponsors research conference on important subjects in biology.
Ten to twenty scientists are invited and intense discussion is held for two to three days. The NIBB
provides financial support for the participants. Conferences may be initiated by the institute's
members or scientists from other institutes.
Facility-sharing program : Scientists from other universities are permitted to use specified
instruments maintained by the NIBB. No financial support is available except for the Large Scale
Spectrograph whose user is provided with limited financial support.
Graduate student program : Graduate students from other universities may spend a fixed period oftime with members of NIBB. This allows students to have experience with the very modern facilityof NIBB. The NIBB is expected to have its own graduate program in the near future.

LIBRARY
The three mstitutes of the Okazaki National Research Institutes share a common library facility. The
library is a part of the main administration building and has a floor space of 2.500 m2 .
The library has 9,350 books in Japanese and 30,050 in foreign languages, and subscribes to 237
Japanese and 446 foreign journals. Lending records, inventory and literature searches arecomputerized. The library is open 24 hours a day.

LODGING FACILITYThe Okazaki National Research Institutes maintain two lodging facilities, the Mishima Lodge andYamate Lodge. Mishima Lodge is a few minutes walk away; Yamate Lodge is less than 20
minutes. The lodges are for scientists and their families staying for fixed periods of time with theinstitutes. Some suites and bungalows are provided with kitchenette facilities. There is a modest
charge to help maintain the facilities.
Mishima Lodge has 54 single rooms. 4 twin rooms, 6 suites, and 10 bungalows for large families.
Yamate Lodge has 11 single rooms. 4 suites and 2 family complexes.
On the campus there is a dining facility that is open Monday through Saturday.

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THE CITY
The city of Okazaki, incorporated in 1916, is located 30 kilometers
southeast of Nagoya, the fourth largest city in Japan. A high-speed
urban train connects the two cities .
Okazaki. with a population of 275,000, is a typical medium-size cityin Japan and offers the convenience of urban life while avoiding thedisadvantages of a large city. Okazaki is the commercial as well as
cultural center of the Mikawa (Three River) district with its richhistorical heritage. lyeyasu Tokugawa. the first Tokugawa Shogun.
was born here in 1542 and built a castle here. The original parapets
and moats and the rebuilt castle still dominate the city as they did
500 years ago. When he established the Shogunate in Edo (theformer name of Tokyo) in 1603, lyeyasu took a large contingent of
Mikawa Bushi (Mikawa Samurai or professional warriors) with him.
Those Mikawa Bushi formed the nucleus of lyeyasu 's new
administration.
Within a radius of 10 kilometers from the city center are locatedMitsubishi Motor's Okazaki Plant. Toyota Motor's main production
facilities in Toyota city, and Sony's ultramodern Koda plant which
produces video tape/disc recorders.

TRANSPORTATIONBY TRAIN
From Tokyo to Toyo-hashi: Two and half hours by the Japan
Railway's (JR-Tokai) super-express train (KODAMA or ECHO). The
train runs every 30 min .

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From Toyo-hashi to Okazaki : Twenty five minutes by the Mei-tetsu(Nagoya Railway) express. Mei-tetsu's station in Okaza ki is Higashi(or East) - Okazaki. The train runs every 20 to 30 min. This is themost convenient route to come to Okazaki from Tokyo.
From Tokyo to Nagoya : Two hours by the JR's super-express train(HIKARI or LIGHTENING). The train runs every 30 min.
From Kyoto/Osaka to Nagoya: One to two hours by the JR's
super-express train (HIKARI/KODAMA) . Kin-tetsu (Kinki Nippon Railway) also serves between Osaka/Nara and Nagoya.
From Nagoya to Okazaki : Thirty five minutes by the Mei-tetsu
express which runs every 20 min .

BY AIR
Domestic airlines serve Komaki. Nagoya. airport which is a 1-hour.
drive from Okazaki.

WEATHERIn Okazaki, temperature goes up to 30 degree centigrade insummer and down to a few degrees above the freezing point in thewinter. May to June is the rainy season and the spring (March toMay) and fall (September to November) are most pleasant.

THE OKAZAKI CASTLE,
THE HOME OF THE FIRSTTOKUGAWA SHOGUN, IYEVASU.

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PROFESSORSDIRECTOR GENERALTOKINDO S. OKADA. B. Sci. & D. Sci. (zoology, Kyoto Univ.). Research
Associate. Department of Zoology, Kyoto Univ. (1954-59). Macaulley Fellow.
Univ. Edinburgh (1957 - 59), Lecturer. Department of Zoology, Kyoto Univ.
(1960-61). and Associate Professor. (1962-66). Carnegie Fellow. Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington (1964 - 1965).
Professor. Department of Biophysics. Kyoto Univ. (1967 - ). D1rector
General. NIBB (1984 - ).

VASUHIRO ANRAKU.

Division of Cell Proliferation. B. Sci., M . Sci. &Ph. D. (pharmaceutical sciences. Univ. Tokyo). Visiting Fellow. NIH (1965 67). Research Fellow, Stanford Univ. (1967 - 68). Research Associate (1968).
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Univ. Tokyo, Associate Professor(1970 - 76). Professor. Department of Biology, Univ. Tokyo (1976 - ),Adjunct Professor, NIBB (1987 - ).

GORO EGUCHI. Division of Morphogenesis. B. Sci. & D. Sci . (biology.

PROFESSORS EMERITUS
NOBORU KAMIVA. B. Sci . (botany, Tokyo Imperial Univ.). D. Sci.
(botany, Tokyo Umv.). Lecturer. Tokyo Univ. (1943 - 49). Professor. Osaka
Un1v. (1949 - 77). V1s1ting Professor. Princeton Umv. (1962 - 63). Visiting
Professor. State Un1v. of NY at Albany (1969 - 70). Professor. NIBS
(1977 -81). Professor Ementus. NIBS (1983). Member Japan Academy.

Nagoya Univ.). Research Associate. Department of Biology, Nagoya Univ.
(1959 - 68). Associate Professor. Department of Biophysics. Kyoto Univ.
(1968- 76). Professor. Institute for Molecular Biology, Nagoya Univ. (197684), Professor. NIBB (1983 - ).

YOSHIHIKO FUJITA. Division of Bioenergetics. B.L.A. (liberal arts. Univ.
Tokyo). M . Sci. (biology, Univ. Tokyo) & D. Sc1. (biochemistry, Univ. Tokyo).
Research Associate. lnst. Appl. Microb1ol.. Un1v. Tokyo (1957-67). Postdoctral Fellow. Univ. Texas (1962 - 64). Research Assoc1ate. Univ. Texas (1965).
Assoc1ate Professor. Ocean Res. lnst. Un1v . Tokyo (1967 -77). Professor(1977 - 1982). Professor. NIBB (1979- ). Acting D1rector. NIBB (Feb.-Sept ..
1984).

MASUTARO KUWABARA.

B. Sci. & D. Sci. (zoology, Hokkaido Imperial
Un1v.). Research Associate. Hokkaido Imperial Univ. (1933 - 43). Associate
Professor. (1944 - 49). Professor. Kyushu Univ. (1949 -- 73). Dean. School of
Science (1964 - 66). Professor. Soph1a Un1v. (1973 - 77). Director-General
NIBB (1977 -83), President, ONRI (1981 -83), Professor Emeritus. NIBS
(1983) . Member NIBB Councile (1983 - ).

KATSUHIKO MIKOSHIBA. DIVISIOn of Behavior and Neurobiology, M.D .
& Ph . D. (physiology, Keio Un1v. School of Medic1ne). Instructor. Ke1o Univ .
Med. School (1973 - 74). Assistance Professor (1974-82). Associate Professor (1982 - 85). Postgraduate Fellow. Pasteur Institute (1976 ·- 77). Professor
Institute for Protein Research. Osaka Univ. (1985- ). Adjunct Professor.
NIBB (1966 - ).

YUKITO OOTA. B. Sci. (botany. Tokyo Imperial Univ.). & D. Sc1. (biology,

VOSHITAKA NAGAHAMA.

Nagoya Un1v.l. Assistant Professor. Biological Institute. Nagoya Univ. (1950 61 ). Professor (1961 - 79). Professor, NIBB (1970 - 83). Professor Emeritus.
NIBB (1983).

Division of Reproductive Biology, B. Sci.
M. Sci. & D. Fish. (biology, Hokka1do Univ.). Postdoctoral Fellow. Univ. of
California. Berkeley (1972 - 74). Univ. of British Columbia (1974 - 76). Research Associate. Univ. Bntish Columbia (1976 - 77). Assoc1ate Research
Endocrinologist. Univ. of California. Berkeley (1977). Associate Professor.
NIBB (1977 86), Professor. NIBB (1986 - ).

KEN-ICHI NAKA.
D. (biology,

20

KyushuDivision of Sensory Processing, B. Sci .. M . Sci. & Ph .
Univ.). Vis1ting Fellow. NIH (1960 - 62). Research

Zoologist. UCLA (1962-63). Research Fellow. Univ. Cambridge (1963 - 64).
Staff Member, Sh1onog1 Research Lab. (1964 - 67). Research Associate and
Sen1or Research Associate. Calif. lnst. Tech. (1968 - 77). Professor. Departments of Physiology and Biophysics and Ophthalmology, UTMB (1976 - 79).
Professor. NIBB (1979 - ). H.W. Rand Fellow (1985).

YOSHIRO SHIMURA. Division of Cellular Communication. B. Sci.. M.
Sci. & D. Sci. (botany, Kyoto Univ.). Ph. D. (microbiology and molecularbiology, Rutgers Univ.). Research Assistant. Institute of Microbiology,
Rutgers Univ. (1958- 1963). Postdoctral Fellow. Department of Microbiology.
the Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine (1963-65). Instructor (196568). Research Fellow. Research Institute for Microbiological Disease. Osaka
Un1v. (1968- 69). Associate Professor. Department of Biophysics. Kyoto
Umv. (1969 - 85). Professor (1985 - ). Adjunct Professor. NIBB (1968 - ).
YOSHIAKI SUZUKI. Division of Cell Differentiation. B. Sci. & D. Sci.
(pharmaceut. sc1.. Un1v. Tokyo) . Staff Member. NIH of Japan (1959 - 71 ).
Postdoctoral Fellow. Department of Embryology, Carneg1e Institution of
Wash1ngton (1968 - 71), Senior Staff Member. NIH of Japan (1971 - 73). Staff
Member. Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution of Washington(1973 - 78). Professor. NIBB (1978 - ).

sor. Department of Biology, College of General Education Univ. Tokyo(1981- ), Adjunct Associate Professor. NIBB (1982- ).

TOSHIYUKI NAGATA. Division of Cell Mechanism. B. Sci. (biology,
Univ. Tokyo). M. Sci. & D. Sc1. (botany, Univ. Tokyo). Research Associate.
Un1v. Tokyo (1973-79). Research Associate, Nagoya Univ. (1980-83).
Associate Professor. NIBB (1983- ).

KENZO NAKAMURA. Division of Cellular Communication. B. Agr .. M .
Agr. & D. Agr (agncultural chemistry, Nagoya Univ.). Research Fellow.
Department of Biochemistry, State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook(1976-79). Research Lecturer (1980- 81). Researcher. Mitsubish1-Kasei Institute of Life Science (1981-83). Associate Professor, School of Agriculture.
Nagoya Univ. (1983- ). Adjunct Associate Professor. NIBB (1986 - ).
HIDEAKI NAKASHIMA. Divis1on of Cellular Regulation. B. Sci. & M. Sci.
(botany, Hirosh1ma Umv.). D. Sci. (botany. Nagoya Univ.). Research Associate. Nagoya Univ. (1969 - 80). Research Fellow (Postdoctoral). Univ. of
California at Santa Cruz (1979-80). Associate Professor. NIBB (1980 - ).

YOSHIMI TAKAI. Division of Cellular Commumcation. M . D. & Ph . D.
(biochemistry, Kobe Umv. School of Medicme). Research Associate. Kobe
Univ. School of Medicine. Department of Biochem . (1975 - 81). Associate
Professor. Kobe Un1v. School of Med1cine. Department of Biochem.
(1981 - ). Adjunct Associate Professor. NIBB (1981 - ).

ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
KOHJI HASUNUMA. Radioisotope Facility, B. Sci. (biology, Univ. Tokyo).
M. Sci. & D. Sci. (botany, Univ. Tokyo). Research Associate. Umv. Tokyo(1971 - 79). Associate Professor. NIBB (1979 - ).

MASARU YAMAIZUMI. Division of Cell Fusion. M. D. (medicine. Kyoto
Univ.) & Ph. D. (virology. Osaka Univ.). Research Associate. ResearchInstitute for Microbial Diseases. Osaka Univ. (1975-82). Research Fellow.
Department of Biology, Yale Univ. (1980). Research Associate. Institute for
Molecular and Cellular Biology. Osaka Umv. (1982). Associate Professor.
Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka Univ. (1983- ). Adjunct
Assoc1ate Professor. NIBB (1983 - ).

SHIGERU ITOH. Division of Bioenergetics. B. Sc1.. M. Sci. &. D. Sci.
(biochemistry, Univ. Tokyo). Research Associate. Faculty of Sci.. Kyushu
Univ. (1975 - 82). Assoc1ate Professor. NIBB (1982 - )ISSEI MABUCHI. Div1s1on of Cell Proliferation. B. Sc1 & D. Sc1.

SHOZO YASUI. Division of Sensory Processing. B. Eng. (aeronautics.
Umv. Tokyo). M . Sci. & Ph. D. (bioengineenng Mass. lnst. Tech.). Staff
Toshiba Res. Lab. (1970 - 71). Research Fellow. Calif. lnst. Tech . (1972 - 74).
Assistant Professor, UTMB (1976 - 79). Associate Professor. NIBB (1979- ).

(biochemistry, Univ. Tokyo). Research Associate. Department of Biology,
College of General Education. Univ. Tokyo (1973 - 81 ). Associate Profes-

21

RESEARCH ASSOCIATESKIYOKAZU AGATA. Diviston of Morphogenesis, B. Sci . & M . Sci.
(biophysics, Kyoto Univ.). Research Associate. NIBS (1983 -).

YOSHIO HAMADA. Ttssue and Cell Culture Laboratory B. Sci. (biology,
Osaka Univ.). M. Sci. & D. Sci. (biophysics,
Associate. NIBS (1979 - ).

Kyoto Univ.). Research

EIKI HIDA.

Division of Sensory Processing, B. Sci. (mathematics. Nagoya
Univ.) & M. Sci . (biophysical engineering, Osaka Univ.). Research associate,
NIBB (1979 - ).

MASAHIRO ISHIURA. Division of Cell Fusion. B. Sci. (biology, Kanazawa
Untv.). M . Sci . & D. Scr. (biology, Osaka Univ.). Research Associate:
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases. Osaka Univ. (1977 -79). Research
Associate. NIBS (1979 - ).

SIGEYUKI KAWANO. Division of Cell Mechanisms. B. Sci. (biology.
Okayama Univ.) D. Sci. (biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Unrv.). Technical Staff.
NIBS (1978-83). Research Associate. NIBS (1983 - ).

TAKEO KISHIMOTO, Divtsion of Reproductive Biology, B. Sci. (chemistry, Untv. Tokyo). M. Sci. & D. Sci. (zoology, Univ. Tokyo) . Research
Assoctate. NIBS (1978 - ).

RYUJI KODAMA. Dtvtsion of Morphogenesis. B. Set. (biophysics andbtochemistry. Univ. Tokyo), M. Sci . & D. Sci . (molecular biology, Nagoya
Univ.). Research Associate, NIBS (1983 - ).

Division of Cell Mechanism. B. Sci.. M . Sci. & D. Set.
(biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Univ.). Junior Research er. Univ. Hawaii (1975) .
Research Fellow. Calif. lnst. Tech . (1976). Research Associate. NIBB
(1979 - ).

KAORI OHKI.

Division of Bioenergetics. B. Agr. (agriculture. Kyoto Univ.).
M . Sci. & D. Sci. (biology, Kyoto Univ.). Technical Staff, Ocean Res. lnst.
Univ. Tokyo (1975-82), Research Associate, NIBS (1982 - ).

KIYOTAKA OKADA. Division of Cellular Communicatton. B. Sci .. M . Scr.
& D. Sci. (biophysics, Kyoto Univ.). Research Associate. Univ. Tokyo(1975 - 82. 84-86). Research fellow department of Biochemtstry andMolecular Biology, Harvard Univ. (1982-84) . Research Associate. NIBS
(1986 - ).
HIROKO SAKAl. Division of Sensory Processing. B.L.A., M.A. (psychology, Int. Christian Unvi .) & D. Sci. (zoology, Kyoto Univ.). Research Associate.
NIBS (1979 - ).
HIROKO SHIRAI. Division of Reproductive Biology. B. Sci. (biology,
Yokohama Municipal Univ.) & D. Sci (biology, Univ. Tokyo). Technical Staff.
Univ. Tokyo (1966-77). Research Associate. NIBS (1977 - ).
TAKAAKI TAMURA.

Division of Behavior and Neurobiology, B. Scr.
(hygiene, Kitasato Univ.). M. Sci. (agriculture, Kagawa Univ.) & D. Sci.
(medical science. Keio Univ.). Research Associate. Keio Univ. Med. School(1977 - 86). Research Fellow. Univ. Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg (1984-86).
Research Associate. NIBS (1986 - ).

SATORU TOKUTOMI. Division of Biological Regulation. B. Sci., M. Sci.
& D. Sci. (biophysics. Kyoto Univ.). Research Fellow. Kyoto Univ. (1978 - 80),
Research Associate. NIBS (1980- ).

KENJI KOHNO. Division of Cell Fusion. B. Sci., M. Sci. & D. Sci.
(microbiology, Univ. Tokyo). Research Associate, NIBS (1980 - ).

MASAKATSU WATANABE. Large-scale Spectrograph Laboratory, B.

TAKAO KONDO.

Sci .. M. Sci. & D. Sci. (biology, Univ. Tokyo). Research Fellow, Univ. Tokyo(1974 - 78), Research Associate, NIBS (1978 - ).

MAMORU MIMURO. Divtsion of Bioenergetics. B. Sci., M. Sci. & D.

KOTARO YAMAMOTO. Division of Biological Regulation, B. Sci .. M.
Sci. & D. Sci. (botany, Univ. Tokyo). Postdoctoral Fellow. Smithsonian
Institution (1977 - 79). Research Associate, NIBS (1980 - ).

Division of Cellular Regulation. B. Sci., M. Sci. & D.
Sci. (biology, Nagoya Univ.). Research Assoctate. NIBS (1978 - ).

Sci. (biology, Univ. Tokyo) . Postdoctoral Fellow. Oce;;~n Res. lnst. Univ.
Tokyo (1978 - 80). Research Associate. NIBS (1980 - ).

22

KAZUO OGAWA,

INSTITUTE RESEARCHFELLOWHIROVUKI HATTORI, Center for Analytical lnstuments. B. Sci. (agriculture, Nagoya Univ.), Technical Officer, Nagoya Univ. (1965-79). Chief,
Technrcal Staff, NIBS (1979 - ).

HIROKO KAJIURA.
TEJICHI FURUICHI. Division of Behavior and Neurobiology, B. Sci .
(brology, Shinshu Univ.). M. Sci & D. Sci. (biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Univ.).
Visiting Graduate Student. State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook(1983 - 86). Research Fellow. NIBS (1986 ·- ).
MASANORIHIRANO. Division of Cellular Communication. B. Sci.

(biology. Kyoto lnst. Tech.). M . Sci. & Ph. D. (biophysics. Kyoto Univ.).
Research Fellow. NIBS (1987 - ).

KATSUMI TODA.

Divrsron of Developmental Biology, B. Sci. M. Sci . &D. Sci. (botany. Hokkaido Unrv.). Postdoctoral Fellow. Max-Planck-InstitutefUr Biochemie (1981-85). Research Fellow. NIBB (1985 - ).

Center for Analytical lnstuments. B. Sci. (chemistry,
Nagoya Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1980 - ).

MASAHIRO KAWAGUCHI. Tissue and Cell Culture Laboratory. B. Sci.
(chemistry. Shizuoka Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1985 -).

HISASHI KOJIMA. Center for Analytical lnstuments. B. Sci . (industrial
chemistry. Nagoya Institute of Technology), Technical Staff. NIBS (1982 - ).
MAMORU KUBOTA. Large-Scale Spectrograph Laboratory. (radioccommunication. Miya Fishery High School). Technical Staff, NIBS (1980-).
CHIEKO NANBA. Experimental Farm. (agriculture.
Junror Col.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1984 - ).

Shiga Prefecture

MASAHIRO NASU. Laboratory Computer Facility. (Meinan TechnicalHigh School). Technical Staff, NIBS (1982 - ).

TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS
STAFF

TOSHIKI OHKAWA.

Laboratory Glassware Facility, (Shimizu-minami HighSchool). Technical Staff, NIBS (1984 - ).

VUKIE SHINOHARA.

Radioisotope Facrlrty, B. Sci . (agrrculture. Kyushu
Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1981 - ).

Head
HACHIRO HONDA.

Research Support Group(Anjo Agricultural and Forestry High School). Technical Staff. Nagoya Univ. (1953 - 78). Head. Technical Department. NIBB
(1978 - ).

SHINJI ADACHI. Department of Developmental Biology, B. Frsh. (biology. Hokkaido Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1980 - ).

Common Facility GroupVUICHIRO ANDO. Department of Regulation Biology. B. Sci. [rnformation
science. Fukui Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1980 - ).

KANAKO FUNADERA.

Radioisotope Facility. B. Sci. (agriculture. Kobe
Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBB (1985 - ).

YOHKO FUJIMURA. Department of Regulation Biology. B. Sci . (biology.
Tokyo Metropolitan Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1980 - ).

KAZUHIKO FURUKAWA. Radiorsotope Facility. B. Sci . (biology, Toho
Univ.). Technical Staff. NIBB (1979 - I.

23

SOH HIDAKA. Department of Regulation Biology. B. Sci. (biology,
Nagoya Univ.). Techn1cal Staff. NIBS (1981 -).

MASAVO IWAKI. Department of Cell 81ology, B. Sc1. (chemistry, Nara
Women's Umv.). Techn1cal Staff. NIBB (1985).
KAORU KATOU.

Department of Developmental 81ology. (agriculture.
Shiga Prefecture Jun1or Col.). Techn1cal Staff. NIBS (1985 - ).

AKIO MURAKAMI. Department of Cell Biology. B. Sci. (biology, Waseda
Univ.). Research Fellow. Univ. Tokyo (1978- 81). Technical Staff. NIBS
(1981 - ).

SOICHI NAKAMURA. Department of Cell Biology. B. Sc1. & M . Sc1.
(biology, Tokyo lnst. Tech.). Technical Staff. NIBS (1979 -).

MAYUMI NASU. Department of Developmental B1ology, B. Sci . (agriculture. Tokyo Un1v. of Agnculture). Technical Staff. NIBS (1985 -).

MIYUKI ODA. Department of Developmental Biology, B. Sci . (agnculture.
Shizuoka Un1v). Techn1cal Staff. NIBS (1986 -).

NORIKO SAKURAI. Department of Developmental Biology. B. Agr.
(agnculture. Me1j1 Un1v.). Techn1cal Staff. NIBS (1986 -24).

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