Tsutomu Suzuki is a globally renowned Japanese biochemist specializing in RNA biochemistry, particularly the biogenesis, function, and biological roles of RNA modifications.
Professor Suzuki’s contributions have helped establish RNA modifications as a critical layer of gene expression regulation, with implications for both basic biology and therapeutic applications in diseases involving dysfunctional translation or RNA processing.
He serves as a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, at The University of Tokyo (also affiliated with related departments such as Chemical Bioengineering and Bioengineering).
Professor Suzuki’s work centers on:
- Post-transcriptional RNA modifications (especially in tRNA, rRNA, and other non-coding RNAs)
- Discovery of novel RNA modifications and the enzymes responsible for them
- Molecular mechanisms of protein synthesis involving the ribosome
- Physiological impacts of RNA modifications, including their roles in cellular stress responses (e.g., thermotolerance, hypoxia/anaerobic adaptation in bacteria), pathogenesis, and human diseases (often termed “RNA modopathies”)
His research has significantly advanced understanding of how chemical modifications to RNA — such as glycosylated queuosine derivatives, 2-thiouridine, and various tRNA/rRNA alterations — influence translation accuracy, efficiency, cellular adaptation, and disease states. He authored influential reviews, including “The expanding world of tRNA modifications and their disease relevance” (Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2021)
Awards and memberships:
- Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Awards for Science and Technology, Research Category) in 2021, for elucidating the biological roles of RNA modifications
- Elected to the Board of Directors of the RNA Society (serving 2024–2025)
