Member

Takafumi Ichikawa

  • Co-PI
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University
Program-Specific Assistant Professor
Research Areas
Developmental Biology, Cell Biology
Keywords
Mammalian peri-implantation development, Tissue patterning, Morphogenesis

Related Outline

Implantation of an embryo into the uterus is essential for mammalian development. To understand the mechanism underlying morphogenesis and pattern emergence during peri-implantation development, we are developing an ex vivo system that recapitulates in utero development and adopts state-of-the-art microscopy and biophysical measurement. Using mouse and monkey embryos, we aim at the fundamental understanding of human birth.

Career

Takafumi Ichikawa obtained his PhD from Kyoto University in 2017 and moved to Germany and undertook postdoctoral training in the Hiiragi group at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) for four years. He was appointed Assistant Professor in 2021 in the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi) at Kyoto University.

Representative Achievements

  • Temporal variability and cell mechanics control robustness in mammalian embryogenesis
    Fabrèges, D., Corominas-Murtra, B., Moghe, P., Kickuth, A., Ichikawa, T., Iwatani, C., Tsukiyama, T., Daniel, N., Gering, J., Stokkermans, A., Wolny, A., Kreshuk, A., Duranthon, V., Uhlman, V., Hannezo, E., & Hiiragi, T.
    Science, 2024, 386(6718), eadh1145
    doi: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh1145
  • An ex vivo system to study cellular dynamics underlying mouse peri-implantation development.
    Ichikawa, T., Zhang, H. T., Panavaite, L., Erzberger, A., Fabrèges, D., Snajder, R., Wolny, A., Korotkevich, E., Tsuchida-Straeten, N., Hufnagel, L., Kreshuk, A., & Hiiragi, T.
    Developmental Cell (2022) 57(3), 373–386.e9.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2021.12.023
  • An amphipathic helix of vinexin  is necessary for substrate stiffness-dependent conformational change in vinculin.
    Hino, N., Ichikawa, T., Kimura, Y., Matsuda, M., Ueda, K. and Kioka, N.
    Journal of Cell Science (2018) 132(2): jcs.217349.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.217349
  • Vinexin family (SORBS) proteins play different roles in stiffness-sensing and contractile force generation.
    Ichikawa, T., Kita, M., Matsui, T.S., Nagasato, A.I., Araki, T., Chiang, S.H., Sezaki, T., Kimura, Y., Ueda, K., Deguchi, S., Saltiel, A.R. and Kioka, N.
    Journal of Cell Science (2017) 130(20): 3517-3531.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.200691
  • Vinculin Association with Actin Cytoskeleton is Necessary for Stiffness-dependent Regulation of Vinculin Behavior.
    Omachi, T., Ichikawa, T., Kimura, Y., Ueda, K. and Kioka, N.
    PLoS One (2017) 12(4): e0175324.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175324
  • The role of the interaction of the vinculin proline-rich linker region with vinexin  in sensing the stiffness of the extracellular matrix.
    Yamashita, H., Ichikawa, T., Matsuyama, D., Kimura, Y., Ueda, K., Craig, S.W., Harada, I. and Kioka, N.
    Journal of Cell Science (2014) 127(Pt9): 1875-1886.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.133645