Our mission is (1) elucidating the molecular mechanisms of life phenomena that can be a target for developing medicines and (2) developing a structural basis for designing chemicals that have more potent activities via analyzing the structure of the chemicals as a complex with their target proteins
Themes
Main subject: Molecular mechanisms of autophagy
Structural Biology of Autophagy
In vitro reconstitution of autophagic processes
Structural analysis of various drugs complexed with their target proteins
Theme Outlines
1. Main subject: Molecular mechanisms of autophagy
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved system that sequesters cytoplasmic materials into autophagosomes and delivers them to lysosomes for degradation. Autophagy maintains our health through degrading superfluous or harmful materials.
Understanding autophagy through determining the structure of ATG proteins using various methods
Structural Biology of Autophagy
By analyzing purified proteins using various methods, we determine the structure of ATG proteins. Moreover, using structural information，we are developing chemicals that regulate autophagy with high specificity.
3. In vitro reconstitution of autophagic processes
Understanding autophagy through elucidating the in vitro functions of each ATG protein. Using giant liposomes, we will investigate the behavior of each ATG protein on the lipid membrane to understand the function of ATG proteins and autophagy.
In vitro reconstitution of autophagic processes
4. Structural analysis of various drugs complexed with their target proteins
Understanding the binding mode through determining the structure of drug-target protein complex
Structural analysis of various drugs complexed with their target proteins
By using structural information, we design drugs that inhibit their targets more efficiently.
5. What is our analysis method?
We use structural biology techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate biological phenomena such as autophagy at the molecular level and to understand their operating mechanisms. We also analyze the three-dimensional structure of drug targets to establish a basis for designing more potent drugs.
Structural analysis of various drugs complexed with their target proteins
