Kotaro Fujii,

Fun Fact: I used to play football (soccer). My research focuses on delineating new regulatory mechanisms of gene regulation at the step of mRNA translation by the ribosome. Our research will unravel new layers of spatiotemporal specificity and fidelity of protein synthesis to further understand the impact of translational regulation in development—and in diseases, particularly those caused by protein aggregation such as neurodegenerative disorders. Key questions we are seeking to understand are “What is the trigger of protein aggregation?” and “How does the regulation of protein synthesis contribute to disease onset?” We believe such knowledge will bring a novel strategy for treatment and prevention. We approach these questions using a variety of model systems such as mice, cultured cells, and yeast, and we apply cutting-edge biochemistry and genetics & genomics to dissect the impact of translation regulation in mammalian homeostasis and elucidate the molecular mechanism.

Dr. Fujii’s research has been centered on delineating new regulatory mechanisms of gene regulation at the step of mRNA translation by the ribosome. Given that the building blocks of our bodies are proteins, maintaining homeostasis of the proteome is critical for our health. His work has elucidated the quality control mechanism of the functional protein synthesis (Fujii et al., 2009 and 2012) and the fidelity of protein production (Fujii et al., 2018). His research also revealed spatiotemporal regulation of mRNA translation in developing mouse embryos (Fujii et al., 2017) and translational regulation by the ribosome itself (Shi et al., 2017) as well as core translation initiation factor eIF3 complex (Fujii et al., 2021). Dr. Fujii’s research program will unravel new layers of spatiotemporal specificity and fidelity of protein synthesis, to further understand the impact of mRNA translation regulation in development and diseases, particularly those caused by protein aggregation such as neurodegenerative disorders.