Dr. Masatoshi Takeichi stands as a preeminent figure in the field of cellular and developmental biology, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding cell adhesion mechanisms. Currently serving as Team Leader at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Kobe, Japan, and holding the distinguished title of Professor Emeritus from Kyoto University, his career spans over five decades of scientific excellence. Born in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on November 27, 1943, he received his BSc in 1966 and MSc in 1968 from Nagoya University before earning his PhD in Biophysics from Kyoto University in 1973. Following his doctoral studies, he undertook a research fellowship at the Carnegie Institute Department of Embryology under Dr. Richard Pagano, which laid the foundation for his future discoveries in cell adhesion biology.
Dr. Takeichi's most seminal contribution to science was his discovery of cadherins, a class of transmembrane proteins that mediate homotypic cell-cell adhesion through like-like binding interactions between neighboring cells. His pioneering work demonstrated that a molecular code exists where cells with identical cadherins preferentially attach to one another, fundamentally explaining how different cell types organize themselves during tissue formation and morphogenesis. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of embryonic development, tissue organization, and the mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis, as loss of cadherin function has been implicated in the invasiveness of many cancers. His research further revealed that cadherin function is supported by cytoplasmic proteins including catenins, and that the cadherin-dependent adhesion mechanism plays crucial roles in neural development and synaptic connections between neurons.
Dr. Takeichi's influence extends beyond his laboratory discoveries to his leadership in the global scientific community, having served as Director of the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology from 2000 until 2014. His work has earned him numerous prestigious accolades including the Japan Prize in 2005 and the Canada Gairdner International Award, recognizing the profound impact of his contributions to biomedical science. As a member of the Japan Academy, International Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and Associate Member of EMBO, he continues to shape the direction of cell biology research through his ongoing investigations into the roles of cadherins and cytoskeletal proteins in tissue morphogenesis and cancer. Currently leading the Laboratory for Cell Adhesion and Tissue at RIKEN, his research continues to explore how microtubules are regulated at their minus ends by CAMSAP proteins and how this process controls cell shaping, ensuring his legacy of scientific innovation continues to advance our understanding of cellular organization.
