Researchers

NAKAZAWA Naotaka

NAKAZAWA Naotaka
Lecturer
Faculty Department of Energy and Materials
Researchmap https://researchmap.jp/n_nakazawa

Education and Career

Education

  • 2004/04 - 2008/03 , Tokyo University of Science, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology,
  • 2008/04 - 2013/03 , Tokyo University of Science, Graduate School of Industrial Science and Technology,

Academic & Professional Experience

  • Apr. 2023 - Today , Japan Science and Technology Agency 創発研究者
  • Apr. 2022 - Today , Kindai University Faculty of Science and Engineering 講師
  • Apr. 2022 - Mar. 2025 , Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences
  • Jun. 2017 - Mar. 2022 , Kyoto university Institute for integrated Cell-Material Sciences Program-Specific Assistant Professor
  • Mar. 2017 - Jun. 2017 , Kyoto university Institute for integrated Cell-Material Sciences Program-Specific Research Associate
  • Apr. 2013 - Feb. 2017 , National University of Singapore Mechanobiology Institute Research Fellow
  • Apr. 2010 - Mar. 2013 , Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Research Activities

Research Areas

  • Nanotechnology/Materials , Structural and functional materials
  • Life sciences , Neuroscience - general
  • Life sciences , Cell biology
  • Life sciences , Developmental biology
  • Life sciences , Biophysics
  • Life sciences , Biomedical engineering

Research Interests

Intracellular signal transduction, Mechanobiology, Cytoskeleton, Morphogenesis, Biomechanics

Published Papers

  1. Confined migration induces non-lethal DNA damage in developing neurons
    Zhejing Zhang; Andres Canela; Junko Kurisu; Peilin Zou; Takumi Kawaue; Naotaka Nakazawa; Noriko Takeda; Mai Saeki; Masaki Utsunomiya; Merve Bilgic; Fumiyoshi Ishidate; Gianluca Grenci; Takahiro Furuta; Yusuke Kishi; Hiroyuki Sasanuma; Mineko Kengaku
    Nature  654  (8120)  , 1098-1107, 17, Jun. 2026  , Refereed
  2. The GAP43 gene in neuroblasts is upregulated in response to cell seeding density
    Mikiya Wakabayashi; Naotaka Nakazawa
    microPublication Biology  2025  (12)  , 1-4, Dec. 2025  , Refereed
  3. Nuclear enlargement after confined migration in cancer cells
    Akane Iizuka; Naotaka Nakazawa
    microPublication Biology  2025  (11)  , 1-4, Nov. 2025  , Refereed

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Books etc

  1. 【PIEZO発見物語】PIEZOチャネルによる機械刺激受容の生理学的意義 , 野々村恵子、中澤直高 , 1, Mar. 2024
  2. Multicellularity: Views from cellular signaling and mechanics , Hiroaki Hirata; Andrea Ravasio; Naotaka Nakazawa; Tsuyoshi Hirashima , Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology , Mar. 2023
  3. カンデル神経科学 , Kandel, Eric R.; Koester, John D.; Mack, Sarah H.; Siegelbaum, Steven; 宮下, 保司; 岡野, 栄之; 神谷, 之康; 合田, 裕紀子; 加藤, 総夫(医学); 藤田, 一郎; 伊佐, 正; 定藤, 規弘; 大隅, 典子; 井ノ口, 馨; 笠井, 清登 , 第７章（中澤直高、見学美根子） , メディカル・サイエンス・インターナショナル , Sep. 2022

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Conference Activities & Talks

  1. A molecular basis for neuronal migration in confined spaces , Naotaka Nakazawa; Mikiya Wakabayashi , 第63回 日本生物物理学会年会 , 25, Sep. 2025
  2. 脳構造の形成に寄与する遊走ニューロンのメカノセンシング機構 , 中澤直高 , 第64回 日本生体医工学会大会 , 6, Jun. 2025
  3. 脳組織内の狭小な空間における ニューロン遊走を駆動する分子メカニズム , 中澤直高 , 第6回近畿大学エネルギーフォーラム , 12, Oct. 2024

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MISC

  1. Mechanostress-induced DNA damage in migrating neurons during brain development , Mineko Kengaku; Zhejing Zhang; Andres Canela; Peilin Zou; Takahiro Furuta; Noriko Takeda; Takumi Kawaue; Naotaka Nakazawa; Mai Saeki; Masaki Utsunomiya; Junko Kurisu; Fumiyoshi Ishidate; Hiroyuki Sasanuma; Yusuke Kishi , 23, Jun. 2025
  2. Neuronal migration induces DNA damage in developing brain , Zhejing Zhang; Andres Canela; Peilin Zou; Takahiro Furuta; Noriko Takeda; Takumi Kawaue; Naotaka Nakazawa; Mai Saeki; Masaki Utsunomiya; Junko Kurisu; Fumiyoshi Ishidate; Hiroyuki Sasanuma; Yusuke Kishi; Mineko Kengaku , 10, Jun. 2025
  3. The roles of FHL2 as a mechanotransducer for cellular functions in the mechanical environment. , Yukari Fujimoto; Naotaka Nakazawa , Frontiers in cell and developmental biology , 12 , 1431690 , 1431690 , 2024
    Summary:The cell has multiple mechanisms for sensing and responding to dynamic changes in the mechanical environment. In the process, intracellular signaling is activated to modulate gene expression. Recent studies have shown that multifunctional signaling molecules that link intracellular force and gene expression are important for understanding cellular functions in the mechanical environment. This review discusses recent studies on one of the mechanotransducers, Four-and-a-half LIM domains 2 (FHL2), which localizes to focal adhesions (FAs), actin cytoskeleton, and nucleus. FHL2 localizes to FAs and the actin cytoskeleton in the cell on stiff substrate. In this situation, intracellular tension of F-actin by Myosin II is critical for FHL2 localization to FAs and actin stress fibers. In the case, a conserved phenylalanine in each LIM domain is responsible for its localization to F-actin. On the other hand, lower tension of F-actin in the cell on a soft substrate causes FHL2 to be released into the cytoplasm, resulting in its localization in the nucleus. At the molecular level, phosphorylation of specific tyrosine in FHL2 by FAK, non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is critical to nuclear localization. Finally, by binding to transcription factors, FHL2 modulates gene expression for cell proliferation as a transcriptional co-factor. Thus, FHL2 is involved in mechano-sensing and -transduction in the cell in a mechanical environment.

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Awards & Honors

  1. Jul. 2018, 新学術領域「脳構築における発生時計と場の連携」第3回班会議, 優秀ポスター賞
  2. Dec. 2016, 日本分子生物学会, 海外若手研究者招聘企画
  3. Sep. 2012, 第2回 モデル生物丸ごと一匹学会, 優秀発表賞

Research Grants & Projects

  1. Japan Science and Technology Agency, FOREST (Fusion Oriented REsearch for disruptive Science and Technology) program, A study on a mechanobiological element based on mechanoseinsing in the neuron
  2. 日本学術振興会, 科学研究費助成事業, ハイドロゲルビーズを用いたヘテロ力学環境とがん細胞状態の大規模探索 , 京都大学
  3. 科学技術振興機構, ニューロンがもつ力学刺激の検知機構に基づく生体力学素子の創出

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