Research Summary

We aim to reveal the survival strategies of motile algae through the combination of "Ciliary Motility" and "Photosynthesis” viewpoints.

It is one of the most characteristic features of living organisms that they can autonomously change their behavior in response to external stimuli. Many swimming microalgae exhibit light-responsive behaviors such as phototaxis to move to an environment suitable for photosynthesis. The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas, a model eukaryotic alga, senses light at its eyespot and changes swimming direction by regulating the beating of its two cilia (a.k.a. flagella). Chlamydomonas shows photobehaviors within one second after photo-sensing, making it a good model of light-responsive behavior in organisms. We use Chlamydomonas and its closely related multicellular green alga Volvox as materials for research to answer three basic questions:
(1) How is light information processed in the cell?
(2) How does this information regulate ciliary movement?
(3) How does light-responsive behavior contribute to algal survival?
Algae are important primary producers. We are exploring the possibility that the results of such research will lead to social contributions such as increasing the production of valuable algae and solving the problem of harmful algal blooms.

At open campuses and other events, we will conduct “microbial art” using phototaxis and microscopic images of Chlamydomonas. In addition to educating people about biology through "beautiful" and "interesting" art, we also conduct research inspired by the mysterious phenomena observed in the art and enjoy the interplay between "play" and "research.

People

Professor, PI

Ken-ichi Wakabayashi
See profile at Researchgate

Undergrads

Tsutomu Moriguchi

Sena Noguchi

Reika Nomura

Kosuke Sasaki

Risako Seki

Publications

Contact Information

Email: kwakabayashi_at_cc.kyoto-su.ac.jp
(Please change _at_ to @.)

Phone: +81-75-705-2964

Access

Campus Map
*Our lab is in Building #15.