Research system

For systematic understanding of the still unknown response mechanism of biological gas molecules, we are making an exhaustive search for new gas response molecules based on the protein refinement technique through the full use of nano bead technology in order to analyze their molecular mechanisms. Based on the findings acquired here, by combining metabolome techniques, we will seek clarification of the control mechanism over the metabolic system in the body.

Our project is primary research objective are building up the foundation for live visualization of the structure of modification and functional changes of various biomolecules evoked by the perception and acceptance of the gas molecules in the living body are searching gas molecular dependent metabolic control points. For the objective, while we will fully rely on cutting-edge technologies such as the multi-function and multi-photon biomicroscope and micromassspectrometry, we aspire to develop of imaging techniques for gas molecules in live cells based on the metal particle array technique or gas-sensitive bioprobes.

Expanding the achievements of gas biology research to medical and drug discovery research, building up a pharmacological and drug efficacy evaluation system that can provide feedback to humans should be indispensable as well as the search for compounds capable of controlling disease states by effecting directly and indirectly the transportation, acceptance, and decomposition of gas molecules. In addition to the traditional evaluation systems that employ experimental animals, we will strategically carry out the development of medical drugs related to gas molecules based on the humanized animals that have implanted human-derived cells in their body.

A joint research

１） Hiroshi Handa, Professor, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology: Provision of nano affinity beads for the search for novel gas receptors. And screening with these.
２）Department of Medicine, Molecular Biology biological basis Kyoto University/Assistant Professor Takuya Kobayashi: Crystal structure analysis of a novel gas receptor GAPDH and detection of functional changes in CO, NO gases.
３）Koichiro Ishimori, Professor of Study of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University: Functional analysis of gas receptors based on Raman spectroscopy.
４）Greg Semenza, Professor of Johns Hopkins University (JHU): Basic and applied analysis of hypoxic responses.
５）FUJIFILM Corporation: Development of a sulfur-containing gas detection system using gold or silver thin films and base technologies for Raman spectroscopic imaging.
６）Makoto Suematsu, Professor of Department of Biochemistry and Integrative Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Keio University: Explanation of the biocontrol mechanism of gas molecules and research of its medical application. (Research bases of this project）