GO TOP

Field

Molecular and Chemical Life Science :
Multilevel Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics

Research

JAPANESE
Assistant Professor KOJIMA Mariko
Campus Katahira campus
Laboratory Dynamic Structural Biology
Tel +81-22-217-5345
E-mail mariko.kojima.a8＠tohoku.ac.jp
Website https://www2.tagen.tohoku.ac.jp/lab/nango/html/
I have been dedicated to the research of proteins, the key players of life, to control them at the ultimate precision of the atomic level. While X-ray crystallography reveals a microscopic world at atomic resolution, it contains a magnificent and complex order beyond imagination. I find myself captivated by the fascination of peering into this "another world," and I continue to explore its depths every day.
Researchmap
Orcid
　
Career
2020. 4 – 2023. 6, D.Sc
School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
 
2023. 7 – 2025. 3, Postdoc
Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University
 
2025. 4 – present, Assistant professor
 
Selected Publications
  1. Mariko Kojima, Xinchen Yao, Satoshi Abe, Tadaomi Furuta, Kunio Hirata, Ririko Kobayashi, Taiga Suzuki, Takafumi Ueno. Cell-Free Protein Crystallization Enables Rapid Structure Determination of Disaccharides and Trisaccharides Using Galectin-10 Crystals. Small Structures (2025) https://doi.org/10.1002/sstr.202500501
  2. Mariko Kojima, Junki Noda, Shuichiro Seno, Gloria Kamwezi, Yuya Nagaoka, Hiroyuki Kono, Ronny Martinez, Akira Onoda. Facile and Additive-Free Synthesis of Chitosan-Catechol Adhesives with Enhanced Adhesive Strength: Performance Evaluation for Wood and Skin Binding. ACS Omega (2025) https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c06017
  3. Basudev Maity, Mitsuo Shoji, Fangjia Luo, Takanori Nakane, Satoshi Abe, Shigeki Owada, Jungmin Kang, Kensuke Tono, Rie Tanaka, Thuc Toan Pham, Mariko Kojima, Yuki Hishikawa, Junko Tanaka, Jiaxin Tian, Misaki Nagama, Taiga Suzuki, Hiroki Noya, Yuto Nakasuji, Asuka Asanuma, Xinchen Yao, So Iwata, Yasuteru Shigeta, Eriko Nango & Takafumi Ueno. Real-time observation of a metal complex-driven reaction intermediate using a porous protein crystal and serial femtosecond crystallography. Nature Communications (2024) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49814-9
  4. Mariko Kojima, Satoshi Abe, Tadaomi Furuta, Kunio Hirata, Xinchen Yao, Ayako Kobayashi, Ririko Kobayashi, Takafumi Ueno. High-throughput structure determination of an intrinsically disordered protein using cell-free protein crystallization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024) https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2322452121
  5. Junko Tanaka, Satoshi Abe, Hayakawa T, Mariko Kojima, Keitaro Yamashita, Kunio Hirata, Takafumi Ueno. Crystal structure of the in-cell Cry1Aa purified from Bacillus thuringiensis. Biochemical and biophysical research communications (2023) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149144
  6. Mariko Kojima, Satoshi Abe, Tadaomi Furuta, Duy Phuoc Tran, Kunio Hirata, Keitaro Yamashita, Yuki Hishikawa, Akio Kitao, Takafumi Ueno. Engineering of an in-cell protein crystal for fastening a metastable conformation of a target miniprotein. Biomaterials Science (2023) https://doi.org/10.1039/D2BM01759H
  7. Satoshi Abe, Junko Tanaka, Mariko Kojima, Shuji Kanamaru, Kunio Hirata, Keitaro Yamashita, Ayako Kobayashi, Takafumi Ueno. Cell-free protein crystallization for nanocrystal structure determination. Scientific Reports (2022) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19681-9
  8. Mariko Kojima, Satoshi Abe, Takafumi Ueno. Engineering of protein crystals for use as solid biomaterials. Biomaterials Science (2022) https://doi.org/10.1039/D1BM01752G
Activities in Academic Societies
The Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ)
The Biophysical Society of Japan (BSJ)
Protein Science Society of Japan (PSSJ)

Recent Activities

I focus on the structural analysis and rational design of light-driven rhodopsins, which utilize light energy to transport ions across cell membranes. These unique proteins function as light-triggered switches, acting as pumps or channels for specific ions. My current goal is to resolve their atomic-level dynamics during operation and to utilize these insights to develop high-precision bio-devices that can be controlled by light.
 
 

Message to Students

When a protein fails to work as expected, I feel the humbling realization of how much I have yet to learn about these molecules. But, I find joy even in that frustration. I highly recommend this field to those who are confident in their fine motor skills and enjoy precision work.

Research