Department of Bioengineering
STAFF
Research Program
In this laboratory, our researches focus on peptide engineering for use in chemical biology researches.
Chemical biology is the area of research that uses the power of chemistry to understand life and link it with biotechnology. Focusing on peptides, we design and build supra-molecular systems using proteins and DNA/RNA and a variety of approaches to develop biotechnological research based on chemical biology. For example, we have developed protein chips using peptide microarrays, amyloid fiber researches using peptide and RNA, and the de novo design of various artificial proteins.
Protein Chip
For improvement of bioinformatics researches, it has become important to analyze various kinds of proteins expressing inside and outside a cell in a high-throughput manner.
We build a peptide array using a peptide library on a plate with the secondary structures such as α helix and β sheet and examine the interactions with various proteins, developing protein chips (microarrays) that can rapidly analyze structure and function of proteins.
Amyloid Protein Design
Peptides with β sheet structure form amyloid fibers, huge molecular aggregates in which the molecules line up regularly and they are known to be the aggregates of prion and the Alzheimer's diseases.
We design artificial peptides and proteins self-assembling into amyloid fibers, and evaluate their structures and properties for developing amyloid blockers. In addition, we also carry out researches of peptide nanofibers as new functional materials.
STAFF
RESEARCH
We are trying to develop novel reaction systems using environmentally friendly materials such as carbon dioxide and enzymes to promote green chemistry
- 1. Biocatalysis in supercritical carbon dioxide
- ・Efficient lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution
- ・Highly selective alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzed asymmetric reduction
- ・Carboxylation using carbon dioxide as a substrate
- 2. Asymmetric reduction of ketones
- ・Development of effective reaction system using alcohol dehydrogenases from Geotrichum candidum
- ・Synthesis of chiral fluorinated compounds
