農学部研究紹介英語版2018-2019

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Chemical Biology Laboratory Junko OHKANDA Professor Dr. Ohkanda’ s research interests include bioorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, chemical biology, and new strategies in medicinal chemistry. Approaches in the Ohkanda Lab include: •Intracellular generation of agents that disrupt protein interactions. We study a new approach of introducing large molecules by exploiting template synthesis on the targeted protein surfaces. •Design of bivalent inhibitors for simultaneous recognition of pocket and surfaces. By anchoring into a pocket, our strategy aims to deliver a minimally sized inhibitor to a featureless protein interface. •Elucidation of the mechanism of action of natural product-based antitumor agents. We work on chemical transformation of fusicoccins, a phytotoxin, to explore a new series of antitumor agents and to understand how it works in cells. C D Multivalent molecules generated by assembling of small modules are capable of modulation of intracellular protein interactions. Integrated Bioscience Division A B C D A C The Ohkanda Research Lab focuses on the problems that lie at the interface of organic chemistry and biology. We are particularly interested in the field of molecular recognition and its application to structure-based design of pharmaceutical agents and chemical tools that are useful for better understanding important cellular processes. A major recent area of research of the group includes the design of molecules ranging from low-molecular-weight enzyme inhibitors to mid-sized agents capable of recognition of protein interfaces to control protein interactions. Peptides, natural products, heterocycles, and metal complexes are of interest as the building blocks for rational designing of artificial biomolecules. Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics Shunsuke SUZUKI, PhD. Assistant Professor Keywords: Human Evolution, Non-coding RNAs, Retrotransposons, Genome Editing, Genomic Imprinting Our researches focus on the roles of transposable elements, which were specifically acquired in the human lineage, in the evolution of human gene regulation and genomic disorders. Using genome editing technology by CRISPR/CAS system, we produce genetically modified human cell lines to investigate function of human-specific retrotransposed sequences. We also analyze function of newly discovered human-specific long non-coding RNAs by overexpression and knockdown experiments in vitro. •Identification and functional analyses of novel RNA transcripts associated with human-specific retrotransposed gene copies. •Analyses of function and evolutionary impact of novel human-specific long non-coding RNAs. •Analyses of the potential role of human-specific retrotransposons in regulation of the human genome. •Analyses of the evolution of genomic imprinting in mammals. C D Generating a genetically modified human cell line by gene manipulation. Each research project is performed by a small research group. Integrated Bioscience Division 1