Fujii Lab » Center for NeuroGenetics » College of Medicine

Our Research

Dr. Fujii’s research is centered on understanding gene regulation focusing on the step of mRNA translation. Our research program will unravel new layers of spatiotemporal specificity and fidelity of protein synthesis, to further understand the impact of translational regulation in development and in diseases, particularly those caused by protein aggregation such as neurodegenerative disorders.

Why Our Research is Important for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Protein aggregation has been observed in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases including but not limited to ALS, Alzheimer’s, and Huntingtin’s disease. Key questions we are seeking to understand are “What is the trigger of protein aggregation?” and “How does the regulation of protein synthesis contribute to disease onset?”. We believe such knowledge will bring us a novel strategy for treatment and prevention.

Research Details

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Select Publications

Nucleic Acids Research (2025)

Ribosomal Expansion Segment Contributes to Translation Fidelity via N-terminal Processing of Ribosomal Proteins

^*Nagai, R., ^*Milam, O.L., Niwa, T., Howell, W.J., Best, J.A., Yoshida, H., Freeburg, C.D., Koomen, J.M., and Fujii, K.

Developmental Cell (2021)

Controlling tissue patterning by translational regulation of signaling transcripts through the core translation factor EIF3C

⁺Fujii, K., Zhulyn, O., Byeon, G.W., Genuth, N.R., Kerr, C.H., Walsh, E.M., and ⁺Barna, M.

Molecular Cell (2018)

Decoding the function of expansion segments in ribosomes

Fujii, K., Susanto, TT., Saurabh, S., and Barna, M.

Nature Communications (2017)

Pervasive translational regulation of the cell signaling circuitry underlies mammalian development

^*Fujii, K., ^*Shi, Z., ^*Zhulyn, O., Denans, N., and Barna, M.

Molecular Cell (2017)

Heterogeneous ribosomes preferentially translate distinct subpools of mRNAs genome-wide

^*Shi, Z., ^*Fujii, K., Kovary, K.M., Genuth, N.R., Röst, H.L., Teruel, M.N., and Barna, M.

Genes & development (2009)

A role for ubiquitin in the clearance of nonfunctional rRNAs

^*Fujii, K., ^*Kitabatake, M., Sakata, T., Miyata, A., and Ohno, M.

Fujii Lab Key Publications

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We are looking for motivated students and postdocs

Graduate Programs

Biomedical Sciences (BMS), College of Medicine

Genetics & Genomics (G&G), Genetics Institute

Lab Address and Directions

Lab: Room 235, Cancer Genetics Research Complex (CGRC)
Office: Room 206
Phone: 352-273-8207
We are located on the 2nd floor of CGRC at the University of Florida
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Mailing address: 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610