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Biophysical Chemistry Lab
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The lab aims to understand life phenomena at the molecular level from the three-dimensional structures of enzymes.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding life phenomena at the molecular level from the three-dimensional structures of enzymes
The Biophysical Chemistry Lab uses X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to understand life phenomena at the molecular level from the three-dimensional structures of enzymes.
The lab studies the relationship between enzyme structure and function, and how dynamic protein complexes work.
It puts particular effort into analyzing the molecular mechanisms of sulfation signaling, the structure and function of glycan-related enzymes, the molecular mechanisms of RNA-related enzymes, and how antibodies recognize their binding partners.
The lab supervises undergraduate students on the premise that they will go on to a master's program.
Key terms
- X-ray crystallography
- A method in which a protein is crystallized, a synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment is performed, and structure calculations determine its three-dimensional structure at atomic resolution
- Cryo-electron microscopy
- A method of determining the three-dimensional structure of a protein from images taken with an electron microscope after freezing the sample
- Sulfotransferase
- An enzyme that transfers sulfate groups to proteins, carbohydrates, hormones, and drugs, and thereby regulates metabolism, differentiation, and signal transduction
NewsLab news
Paper on the crystal structure analysis of the heparosan synthase KfiA published in Carbohydrate Research
Paper on the biochemical analysis of mouse PAP phosphatase published in BBB
A master's student won the Excellent Presentation Award at the Western Japan Branch Meeting of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
A master's student won the Excellent Poster Award at the Kyushu Symposium on the Structure and Function of Proteins and Enzymes
A master's student won the Excellent Poster Award at the Kyushu Branch Meeting of the Japanese Biochemical Society
ResearchResearch themes
Enzymes and other proteins carry out the chemical reactions and molecular recognition of life phenomena, and their three-dimensional structures determine their reactivity and recognition specificity. The lab works on structural biology, which determines the structures of proteins in "living" states such as when bound to substrates or inhibitors and during the middle of a reaction, as well as on laser-based analysis of protein motion.
*Illustrative imageThree-dimensional structures of sulfotransferases
The lab studies sulfotransferases, which transfer sulfate groups to proteins, carbohydrates, hormones, and drugs, and thereby regulate metabolism, differentiation, and signal transduction. From structures of the enzymes bound to substrates, it aims to clarify the structural basis of substrate specificity and the reaction mechanism.
*Illustrative imageStructures of sugar-related enzymes
The lab studies the three-dimensional structures of sugar-related enzymes found in humans, pathogenic bacteria, and other organisms. The main targets are glycosyltransferases (glycan synthases and sialyltransferases) and enzymes that break down sugars.
*Illustrative imageEnzymes involved in tRNA maturation
Among RNA-related enzymes, the lab targets those involved in tRNA maturation. Using cryo-electron microscopy, it examines the binding sites in tRNA–enzyme complexes and a dodecameric bacterial enzyme.
*Illustrative imageObserving protein motion with laser light
Proteins and enzymes show various kinds of motion when they function. The lab uses a specialized laser-based spectroscopy to reveal the internal motions of proteins that are related to how they act.
MembersFaculty
The Biophysical Chemistry Lab consists of faculty members, technical staff, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorYoshimitsu Yoshimitsu
- Associate ProfessorEtsuko Nishimoto
- Assistant ProfessorTakamasa Teramoto
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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: “Crystal structure ( )” Jun from Melbourne, Australia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Three-dimensional structures of sulfotransferases: “Sulfotransferase SULT1A3” MarinaVladivostok / CC0 (cropped)
- Structures of sugar-related enzymes: “Fig9” Sebastian J. Muderspach, Folmer Fredslund, Verena Volf, Jens-Christian Navarro Poulsen, Thomas H. Blicher, Mads Hartvig Clausen, Kim Krighaar Rasmussen, Kristian B. R. M. Krogh, Kenneth Jensen & Leila Lo Leggio / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Enzymes involved in tRNA maturation: “TRNA 1ehz coil lots” Dcrjsr / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Observing protein motion with laser light: “European XFEL DESY Beschleunigermodule 2” Dirtsc / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Microbial Technology Lab): “Joghurt” No machine-readable author provided. Rainer Zenz assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Gene Regulation Lab): “Genome Sequencer2” Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS) / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Microbial Genetic Resources Lab): “Aerial image of Grand Prismatic Spring (view from the south)” Carsten Steger / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plant Production Physiology Lab): “Ice Plant ( )” dionysia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
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