Contributing to drug discovery and development by elucidating the cause of disease from protein structure
In the living organism, a protein molecule folds into its three-dimensional structure that is encoded in its sequence. Since the function of a protein is closely linked to its structure, experimental determination of the protein structure is a matter of high importance. We are using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, and neutron crystallography to investigate the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Our aim is to contribute to drug discovery and development by elucidating the cause of diseases from proteins structure.
Research Topics
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Structural biology of amyloidosis related proteins
Amyloidosis is a disease caused by aggregation and accumulation of proteins in the body, which includes Alzheimer's disease and transthyretin-related amyloidosis. We are conducting researches on the three-dimensional structure of transthyretin in order to clarify the mechanism by which abnormal structures of proteins causing these diseases can be generated.
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Analysis of protein structure and discovery of seed compounds for drug development
X-ray crystallography and neutron crystallography are powerful methods to investigate protein functions and molecular recognition at atomic level. We are conducting structural analysis of various proteins, and drug discovery and development research focusing on natural compounds.
Lab Members
Mineyuki Mizuguchi
Professor
- Degree
- Ph.D.
- Research Areas
- Structural Biology, Protein Science, Biophysics
Takayuki Obita
Associate Professor
- Degree
- Ph.D.
- Research Areas
- Structural Biology
Takeshi Yokoyama
Assistant Professor
- Degree
- Ph.D.
- Research Areas
- Structural Biology