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Biomolecular Chemistry Lab
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The lab designs and synthesizes peptides and examines how they function.
AboutAbout the lab
Designing biomolecules just as intended
The Biomolecular Chemistry Lab studies the design, synthesis, physical properties, and biological activity of molecules, using peptides and other biomolecules as subjects.
The main substances it handles are amino acids, peptides, and proteins.
The lab combines methods such as chemical synthesis, analysis of structural changes, enzyme activity measurement, enzyme inhibition experiments, receptor binding assays, and molecular modeling.
Through methods such as chemical synthesis, three-dimensional structure analysis, activity measurement, computational science, and molecular biology, the lab explores how to create biomolecules with new structures and functions.
Key terms
- Peptides
- A molecule made of several amino acids linked together. It is shorter than a protein and has diverse functions in the body
- Coacervation
- A phenomenon in which molecules gather into droplets under conditions such as temperature, and disperse again when the conditions are reversed
- Nuclear receptor
- A protein located in the cell nucleus that, when a hormone or similar molecule binds to it, changes how proteins are produced
NewsLab news
Research on phase separation of short-chain elastin-like peptides was published in Biopolymers
Research on elastin-like peptides whose phase transition is controlled by light was published in ACS Synth. Biol.
Research on the temperature response of branched peptides was published in Biomacromolecules
A student won a poster award at the 27th KPPS Annual Symposium
ResearchResearch themes
Using peptides and proteins as subjects, the lab works on a range of topics, from studies of the relationship between structure and function to risk assessment of chemicals and the design of enzyme inhibitors. It combines chemical synthesis and biochemical experiments with computational chemistry.
*Illustrative imageStructure and function of elastin-derived peptides
Elastin is a protein abundant in blood vessels and subcutaneous tissue that gives tissues elasticity, and it shows coacervation: it aggregates when the temperature is raised and dissolves when it is lowered. The lab makes synthetic peptides that mimic its repeating sequence and is working on designs that increase the strength of self-assembly.
*Illustrative imageFinding molecules that bind to receptors
When harmful chemicals in the environment bind to nuclear receptors, they mimic or interfere with the action of the original hormones. Combining biochemical experiments with computational chemistry, the lab created an assay method that distinguishes whether a chemical activates or inhibits a receptor.
*Illustrative imageDesigning enzyme inhibitors
Using inhibitors of the enzyme chymotrypsin as a subject, the lab tests whether docking calculations can predict the activity of newly designed molecules. It actually synthesizes inhibitors predicted by calculation and compares them with the results measured in enzyme activity assays.
*Illustrative imageDistinguishing binding specificity with a solvent
When searching for drug candidates, it is important to identify molecules that bind to places other than the intended target. The lab developed a simple method for identifying inhibitors with low specificity by slightly perturbing the enzyme with a low concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Biomolecular Chemistry Lab consist of faculty and doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakeru Nose
- Assistant ProfessorKeitaro Suyama
- Assistant ProfessorNatsumi Nakagawa
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Molymods” Sonia / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Structure and function of elastin-derived peptides: “Aorta wall connective tissue-088” RWhitwam / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Finding molecules that bind to receptors: “Nuclear receptor action” Boghog2 / Public domain (cropped)
- Designing enzyme inhibitors: “Chymotrypsin 4cha” Yikrazuul / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Distinguishing binding specificity with a solvent: “Crystals of dimethyl sulfoxide-d6” Ryabitskii / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab
(動的生命化学研究室): “Fluorescence from Fluorescent Proteins” Erin Rod / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (分散系物理化学研究室): “Water beads (42106)” Rhododendrites / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物有機化学研究室): “Biology apparatus” Abdsomod / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生体分析化学研究室): “Cell membrane in Rheo leaf cell” Krishna satya 333 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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