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Protein Science Lab
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A lab that makes, investigates, and manipulates proteins, with particular strength in NMR.
AboutAbout the lab
Making, investigating, and manipulating proteins
The Protein Science Lab studies how proteins form three-dimensional structures and function.
Even though the blueprint can be read from the genome, much remains unknown about the path from that blueprint to the formation of the correct shape and the exertion of function.
Using genetic engineering techniques for mass production and NMR methods that can examine the structure and motion of molecules, the lab works with proteins from a wide range of organisms, from microbes and insects to humans.
With the goal of freely controlling three-dimensional structure and function, the lab also collaborates with researchers across a wide range of fields to advance applications in medicine and industry.
Key terms
- NMR spectroscopy
- A method that measures the properties of atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field to examine the shape and internal motion of molecules
- Recombinant DNA technology
- A technology in which a gene from one organism is introduced into E. coli, yeast, or the like so that it produces the target protein
- Peptide
- A molecule made of several to several dozen amino acids linked together; smaller than a protein
NewsLab news
Developed a simple method for measuring human milk oligosaccharides using benchtop NMR and machine learning
Developed a new technique for accurately measuring lactose in breast milk with a benchtop NMR instrument
Master's student wins a Poster Award at the Annual Meeting of the Protein Society of Japan
Paper elucidating a new function of ice-binding proteins published in FEBS Open Bio
Student wins an Outstanding Presentation Award at the Hokkaido University Cell Biology Research Meeting
ResearchResearch themes
Proteins form complex three-dimensional structures that allow them to work as molecular machines and carry out every task needed for life. Built on three pillars, "making," "investigating," and "manipulating," this lab studies proteins and peptides.
*Illustrative imageMaking Proteins
To study three-dimensional structure and function, proteins that exist only in tiny amounts in living organisms must be obtained artificially in large quantities. Focusing on peptides, which are also drawing attention in middle-molecule drug discovery, the lab develops efficient production techniques using recombinant DNA technology.
*Illustrative imageInvestigating Proteins
Once proteins can be made in large quantities, their three-dimensional structures can be examined by X-ray crystallography and NMR. Using NMR, which can even observe motion inside molecules, the lab approaches the mystery of how three-dimensional structures form and how function emerges.
*Illustrative imageManipulating Proteins
Once the relationship between three-dimensional structure and function is understood, molecules with high functionality can be designed artificially. Through joint research with other faculties such as the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Agriculture, as well as with other universities and companies, the lab also works on developing applied technologies using proteins and peptides.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Protein Science Lab consist of faculty members, professors emeritus, research fellows, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTomoyasu Aizawa
- Assistant ProfessorTatsuya Arai
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “PDB 1mm0 EBI” Jawahar Swaminathan and MSD staff at the European Bioinformatics Institute / Public domain (cropped)
- Making Proteins: “S cerevisiae under DIC microscopy” Masur / Public domain (cropped)
- Investigating Proteins: “Yeast membrane proteins” Masur / CC BY 2.5 (cropped)
- Manipulating Proteins: “E coli at 10000x, original” Photo by Eric Erbe, digital colorization by Christopher Pooley, both of USDA, ARS, EMU. / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Diversity Biology Ia Lab): “Micrura verrilli” Marlin Harms / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Hokkaido University Field Ornithology Lab): “Otus elegans from iNaturalist photo” WeitingLiu (weitingliu) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Diversity Biology Ib Lab): “Drosophila mimica” Shchurch / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Diversity Biology II Lab: Algae and Extant Organism Diversity Research): “Volvox Aureus 400x” Massimo brizzi / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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