RIKEN Center for Brain Science Support Unit for Electron Microscopy Techniques

Unit Leader: Chieko Saito (Ph.D.)

Japanese Page

Research Summary

This unit houses a state-of-the-art electron microscope and associated equipment and tools to support research in RIKEN on neural microcircuits in the brain and organelle structure. The staff of our unit has specialized technical knowledge and expertise on electron microscopy and related techniques and, based on the information provided and through discussion, advises RIKEN research teams on experimental protocols and other technical aspects of respective research projects. We conduct maintenance of the shared research equipment in our unit and provide training and educational seminars for the latest EM technologies.

Main Research Fields

Biology

Related Research Fields

Medicine, Dentistry & Pharmacy
Nerve anatomy / Neuropathology
Neurophysiology / General neuroscience

Keywords

ultrastructure
Neural micro circuit
Neural connection
connectome
Electron microscope

Selected Publications

Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.

1. *Tomoya Eguchi, Maria Sakurai, Yingxue Wang, Chieko Saito, Gen Yoshii, Thomas Wileman, Noboru Mizushima, Tomoki Kuwahara, Takeshi Iwatsubo
"The V-ATPase-ATG16L1 axis recruits LRRK2 to facilitate lysosomal stress responses"
Journal of Cell Biology, 223(3) e202302067, October 13, 2023 , doi: 10.1083/jcb.202302067
2. *Takahiro Shimizu, Norito Tamura, Taki Nishimura, Chieko Saito, Hayashi Yamamoto, Noboru Mizushima
"Comprehensive analysis of autophagic functions of WIPI family proteins and their implications for the pathogenesis of β-propeller associated neurodegeneration"
Human Molecular Genetics, June 26, 2023 , doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddad096
3. *Zhang, W., Nishimura, T., Gahlot, D., Saito, C., Davis, C., Jefferies, H.B.J., Schreiber, A., Thukral, L., Tooze, S.A.
"Autophagosome membrane expansion is mediated by the N-terminus and cis-membrane association of human ATG8s"
eLife, 12 : e89185, June 8, 2023 , doi: 110.7554/eLife.89185
4. *Tomoko Ohshima, Hayashi Yamamoto, Yuriko Sakamaki, Chieko Saito, Noboru Mizushima
"NCOA4 drives ferritin phase separation to facilitate macroferritinophagy and microferritinophagy"
Journal of Cell Biology 221(10) e202203102, October 3, 2022, doi: 10.1083/jcb.202203102
5. *Yuji Sakai, Satoru Takahashi, Ikuko Koyama-Honda, Chieko Saito, Noboru Mizushima
"Experimental determination and mathematical modeling of standard shapes of forming autophagosomes."
Nature Communications volume 15, Article number: 91, January 2, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-44442-1
6. *Satoru Takahashi, Chieko Saito, Ikuko Koyama-Honda, Noboru Mizushima
"Quantitative 3D correlative light and electron microscopy of organelle association during autophagy"
Cell Structure and Function, Volume 47 Issue 2 Pages 89-99, November 22, 2022, doi: 10.1247/csf.22071
7. *Hideaki Morishita, Tomoya Eguchi, Satoshi Tsukamoto, Yuriko Sakamaki, Satoru Takahashi, Chieko Saito, Ikuko Koyama-Honda, Noboru Mizushima
"Organelle degradation in the lens by PLAAT phospholipases"
Nature, 592(7855) 634-638, April 14, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03439-w
8. *Jaime Agudo-Canalejo, Sebastian W Schultz, Haruka Chino, Simona M Migliano, Chieko Saito, Ikuko Koyama-Honda, Harald Stenmark, Andreas Brech, Alexander I May, Noboru Mizushima
"Wetting regulates autophagy of phase-separated compartments and the cytosol."
Nature, 591(7848 ):142-146, January 20, 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2992-3
9. Yoshiyuki Kubota, Takaaki Miyazaki, Nilton L Kamiji, Tamami Honda, Motohide Murate, Mitsuo Suga
"A wide variety of techniques for a volume electron microscopy"
Microscopy, Volume 74, Issue 3, Pages 215–222, February 19, 2025, doi: 10.1093/jmicro/dfaf011

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Chieko Saito: Unit Leader

Core members

Motohide Murate: Technical Scientist
Tamami Honda: Technical Staff I
Kazuko Tanaka: Assistant

Contact Information

Brain Science Central Bldg.
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
Email: chiezo@riken.jp