ERATO Murata Lipid Active Structure Project

Japanesecontact
 
 

Research

Lipid-protein interactions have been recently revealed to play key roles in cell physiology such as signal transduction and substance transportation. Structural biology, which has greatly accelerated the advance of biosciences has mainly been focusing on proteins, whereas hardly dealing with membrane lipids and lipid ligands. Because lipids are highly flexible molecules, the elucidation of their three-dimensional structures binding to or surrounding membrane proteins is extremely difficult even with the use of X-ray crystallography. We have been studied to elucidate the true active structure of lipids in and around proteins (Fig.1) by using cutting-edge solid-state NMR techniques (Fig.2) combined with ultra-high-resolution X-ray crystallography (Fig 3), organic synthesis and protein engineering. This breakthrough is expected to advance our knowledge in biological and biomedical sciences over the next decade, and also contribute the researches and developments for medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Our ERATO research on lipid-protein interaction can lead a new concept in structural biology based on lipid structure analysis
Figure 1. Our ERATO research on lipid-protein interaction can lead a new concept in structural biology based on lipid structure analysis.

Solid-state NMR Instrument
Figure 2. Solid-state NMR Instrument

Spring 8 (Synchrotron Radiation Faciity)
Figure 3. Spring 8 (Synchrotron Radiation Faciity)

 

In 2010, Professor Michio Murata, department of chemistry, Graduate School of Science, was appointed as a Research Director of the Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) funded by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) to expand further his research on lipid for 5 years. ERATO research funding program was founded in 1981, to promote basic research in science and technology as an important part of "Strategic Basic Research Programs" initiated by the Japan government. Its main mission is to make Japan a world leader in science and technology: bringing a bright future at Japan as well as making significant contributions to the international scientific community. For ERATO projects, in parallel with national strategic objectives in science and technology, JST establishes key research areas that offer high potential for creating seeds for new technologies, then appoints a research director to be responsible for each of these strategic research areas. The research director's mission is to draw up a detailed research plan, recruit staff, and manage the 5-year project to achieve his or her vision as well as national strategy.

Prof. Murata set up an independent research organization from his laboratory at the Graduate School of Science. It consists of the administrative headquarters and three research groups. One of the groups works at Frontier Research Center at Suita campus and the others at Project Research Center of Fundamental Science at Toyonaka campus. Currently there are 15 scientists at both sites and they were recruited from Japan and from abroad. Besides, we have collaborators in the five universities. (Fig.4)

ERATO Project Organization Chart
Figure 4. ERATO Project Organization Chart

In order to facilitate ERATO research activity and to achieve the interdisciplinary objectives effectively, we regularly have meetings such as weekly meetings with group members, bimonthly meetings with collaborators (Fig.5), and annual meetings with all project members including JST staff (Fig.6), where we usually invite guest speakers to collect information on hot topics on lipid-protein interactions.

Bimonthly Project Meeting
Figure 5. Bimonthly Project Meeting

Annual Progress Report Meeting
Figure 6. Annual Progress Report Meeting

 

Now membrane lipid, especially interactions between lipids and proteins, is one of the most exciting research topics, it is important for us to have a global research network. In 2011 we organized "International ERATO Symposium on Lipid Structures in and around Proteins" and succeeded in expanding the collaboration network with 11 guest speakers from 7 countries (Fig.7). We have revealed some new insights into the mystery of membrane lipids. Such knowledge will highlight not only the basic principles of cell biology and tissues but also fundamental insights into the molecular biology. These findings will surely contribute to biomedical/pharmaceutical sciences through providing fundamental knowledge that can be utilized for diagnosis and medication.

International ERATO Symposium
Figure 7. International ERATO Symposium