IBS Life Science Institute

The Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Structure was founded in 2018 to explore the structure and function of biological macromolecules and organelles. The Biomolecular Sociology Group joined the Center in 2024. Using cryogenic electron microscopy and tomography techniques, the group aims to elucidate the structures and interactions of molecules within cells and understand biological processes at the atomic level. The primary research goal of the group is to understand the principles of direct intercellular communication through gap junctions. This research will greatly advance our understanding of biological processes in which gap junctions play a critical role, such as normal brain function, synchronized contraction of cardiomyocytes, and insulin secretion dynamics.