Hirokawa's work is mostly focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in transporting materials within nerve cells, in particular in his discovery of many of the functions of the Kinesin superfamily of molecular motors.
Hirokawa published numerous papers include the following
Hirokawa, N. Cross-linker system between neurofilaments, microtubules, and membranous organelles in frog axons revealed by the quick-freeze, deep-etching method. Journal of Cell Biology 94: 129-142, 1982.
Hirokawa, N., K.K. Pfister, H. Yorifuji, M.C. Wagner, S.T. Brady, and G.S. Bloom. Submolecular domains of bovine brain kinesin identified by electron microscopy and monoclonal antibody decoration. Cell 56: 867-878, 1989
Okada, Y., H. Yamazaki, Y. Sekine-Aizawa, and N. Hirokawa. The neuron-specific kinesin superfamily protein KIF1A is a unique monomeric motor for anterograde axonal transport of synaptic vesicle precursors. Cell 81: 769-780, 1995.
Hirokawa, N. Kinesin and dynein superfamily proteins and the mechanism of organelle transport. Science 279: 519-526, 1998.
Nonaka, S., Y. Tanaka, Y. Okada, S. Takeda, A. Harada, Y. Kanai, M. Kido, and N. Hirokawa. Randomization of left-right asymmetry due to loss of nodal cilia generating leftward flow of extraembryonic fluid in mice lacking KIF3B motor protein. Cell 95: 829-837, 1998.
Okada, Y., and N. Hirokawa. A Processive Single-Headed Motor: Kinesin Superfamily Protein KIF1A. Science 283: 1152–1157, 1999.
Setou, M., T. Nakagawa, D.H. Seog, and N. Hirokawa. Kinesin superfamily motor protein KIF17 and mLin-10 in NMDA receptor-containing vesicle transport. Science 288: 1796–1802, 2000.
Kikkawa, M., E.P. Sablin, Y. Okada, H. Yajima, R.J. Fletterick, and N. Hirokawa. Switch-based mechanism of kinesin motors. Nature 411: 439-445, 2001.
Homma, N., Y. Takei, Y. Tanaka, T. Nakata, S. Terada, M. Kikkawa, Y. Noda, and N. Hirokawa. Kinesin superfamily protein 2A functions in suppression of collateral branch extension. Cell 114: 229-239, 2003.
Nitta, R., M. Kikkawa, Y. Okada, and N. Hirokawa. KIF1A alternately uses two loops to bind microtubules. Science 305: 678-683, 2004.
Hirokawa, N., Y. Tanaka, Y. Okada and S. Takeda. Nodal flow and the generation of left-right asymmetry. Cell 125: 33-45, 2006.
Midorikawa, R., Y. Takei, and N. Hirokawa. KIF4 motor regulates activity-dependent neuronal survival by suppressing PARP-1 enzymatic activity. Cell 125: 371-383, 2006
Honors and awards
Hirokawa received several honors and awards include the following
