SuzukilaboratoryLab of RNA biochemistry, The University of Tokyo

Tsutomu Suzuki

University Education

• Ph.D degree in Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, March 1996

Scientific Positions

• 2008.06-                Professor, Department of Chemistry and biotechnology, University of Tokyo
• 2004.04-2008.06   Associate professor, Department of Chemistry and biotechnology, University of Tokyo
• 1999.10-2004.03   Lecturer, Department of Integrated Biosciences, University of Tokyo
• 1997.07-1999.09   Research Associate, Department of Chemistry and biotechnology, University of Tokyo
• 1996.04-1997.06   Researcher, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• 1993.04-1996.03   JSPS fellowship DC1

Research Area

Biochemistry and molecular biology of RNA

Research Highlights

• Biosynthetic and functional studies on RNA modifications involved in various biological processes
• Genetic and biochemical analysis of ribosomal RNAs
• Mass spectrometric analysis of non-coding RNAs

Biographical Information

I obtained my Ph.D. in Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1996, took a job in a pharmaceutical company, and started my carrier as an RNA biochemist in University of Tokyo in 1997. In 2004, I became independent and started my lab focusing on RNA modification and protein synthesis. My lab has developed a platform technology for isolating individual RNAs, and analyzing their modifications by mass spectrometry. So far, we discovered several novel modifications and dozens of RNA-modifying enzymes. My group also reported the first instance of human disease caused by RNA modification deficiency. Last year, I started a JST ERATO project on RNA modification as a director for 6 years.

Further information about our research can be found at
Google Scholar

Awards

• Awards for Science and Technology (Research Category). The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2021
• The 26th Kihara Memorial Foundation Academic Award in 2018 “Elucidation of the biological role of RNA modification”
• Nucleic Acids Research Breakthough paper 2018
• Nucleic Acids Research Breakthough paper 2016
• Journal of Biological Chemistry Best Papers of 2014
• The 9th JSPS prize in 2012 “Direct analysis of RNA molecules by mass spectrometry approaches biological processes”
• The 6th MSBJ Mitsubishi Chemical Award in 2008 “Biogenesis and functions of RNA modifications”
• Human Frontier Science Program Award in 2003 (PI; Tsutomu Suzuki)
• Human Frontier Science Program Award in 1999 (shared with Larry Simpson)

Other Contributions

• 2020.10-   Director of JST ERATO “SUZUKI RNA Modification Project”
• 2018.04-   President of Japanese RNA society
• 2017.11     Co-organizer for Cold Spring Harbor Asia "RNA modification and epitranscriptome"
• 2016.06     Co-organizer for 21st annual meeting of RNA society (RNA2016)
• 2012.04-   Vice Chairman of Japanese RNA society
• 2008.04-   Board member of Japanese RNA society
• 2004-        Visiting researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology