Hiroko Bannai
Official Title
Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience
School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University
Examples of Classes Taught
Biophysics, Physiology, Neuropathology
Research Fields
Biophysics, Neuroscience
Research
The brain that processes enormous amounts of information is often compared to a computer. However, the brain is very different from computers, as the components of the brain, i.e. proteins and lipids, are constantly replaced throughout life. How can we maintain the structure of the brain and perform higher-order functions such as memory, learning, and thinking while the components of the brain are constantly being replaced? Our laboratory aims to elucidate the functions of the brain and the mechanism of the onset of neurological disorders based on nano-scale information on the physical properties and dynamics of biomolecules.
Selected publications
1. Bannai, H, Hirose, M., Niwa, F., Mikoshiba, K.
“Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+Indicators.” J. Vis. Exp. (145), e59246 (2019).
2. Bannai H
“Molecular membrane dynamics: Insights into synaptic function and neuropathological disease” Neurosci Res. 129, 47-56 (2018)
3. Sakuragi S, Niwa F, Oda Y, Mikoshiba K, Bannai H.
“Astroglial Ca2+ signaling is generated by the coordination of IP3R and
store-operated Ca2+ channels” Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 486:879-885.
(2017)
4. V Vervliet T, Pintelon I, Welkenhuyzen K, Bootman MD, Bannai H, Mikoshiba
K, Martinet W, Nadif Kasri N, Parys JB, Bultynck G.
“Basal ryanodine receptor activity suppresses autophagic flux.” Biochem
Pharmacol.132:133-142. (2017)
5. Niwa F, Sakuragi S, Kobayashi A, Takagi S, Oda Y, Bannai H, Mikoshiba K.
“Dissection of local Ca(2+) signals inside cytosol by ER-targeted Ca(2+) indicator.” Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 479:67-73 (2016)
6. Bannai H*, Niwa F*, Sherwood MW, Shrivastava AN, Arizono M, Miyamoto A, Sugiura K, Lévi S, Triller A, Mikoshiba K. (*: co-first author)
“Bidirectional Control of Synaptic GABAAR Clustering by Glutamate and Calcium”
Cell Reports, 13: 2768-2780 (2015)
7. Bannai H., Inoue T., Hirose M., Niwa F., Mikoshiba K. (2020) Synaptic
Function and Neuropathological Disease Revealed by Quantum Dot-Single-
Particle Tracking. In: Yamamoto N., Okada Y. (eds) Single Molecule Microscopy
in Neurobiology. Neuromethods, vol 154. Humana, New York, NY.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0532-5_7
8. Bannai H, Niwa F, Sakuragi S, Mikoshiba K.(2020) Inhibitory synaptic
transmission tuned by Ca2+ and glutamate through the control of GABAA R
lateral Diffusion dynamics. Dev Growth Differ (62) 398-406
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dgd.12667