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Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (Biochemistry II) Lab
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A lab seeking treatments for cancer and neurological diseases from the functions of glycans.
AboutAbout the lab
At the forefront of glycan research, creating the medicine of the future
The Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Lab (Department of Biochemistry II) studies molecules involved in the onset and progression of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and their post-translational modifications.
Focusing on the structure and function of receptor proteins on the cell membrane surface, their ligands, and the glycans that modify them, the lab analyzes them using biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology.
The lab aims to develop new therapies based on how molecules function and are regulated.
On the lab's website, it is introduced under the name "Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and Functional Molecule Regulation."
Key terms
- Glycan
- A molecule in which sugars are linked in a chain. This lab studies the structure and function of glycans that modify proteins
- Notch receptor
- A receptor protein on the cell membrane surface. When a ligand binds, it transmits Notch signaling, and it is modified by glycans
- Glycoproteomic analysis
- An analysis that uses mass spectrometry to examine the structure of glycans attached to specific proteins
- CADASIL
- A major form of hereditary vascular dementia. Abnormal quality control of the Notch3 receptor has been suggested as a possible cause
NewsLab news
A paper was published on xylose extension of O-glucose glycans and Notch quality control
Lecturer Yuko Tashima published a paper elucidating the mechanism by which EOGT function is reduced in a congenital disease
A third-year medical student won an Excellence Award at the Basic Medicine Seminar
Assistant Professor Yohei Tsukamoto published a paper on the discovery of a new glycan structure on the Notch receptor
Lecturer Yuji Kondo published a paper on Site-1 protease and lymphatic vessel development
ResearchResearch themes
The lab focuses on molecules involved in the onset and progression of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases and their post-translational modifications, aiming to develop new therapies based on molecular function and regulatory mechanisms. In particular, it focuses on the structure and function of receptor proteins on the cell membrane surface, their ligands, and the glycans that modify them.
*Illustrative imageNotch receptor glycans and neurodegenerative disease
The lab has clarified a quality-control mechanism mediated by O-glycans on the Notch receptor, and aims to establish new treatment strategies for the hereditary vascular dementia caused by its abnormalities. In CADASIL, a major form of hereditary vascular dementia, abnormal quality control of the Notch3 receptor has been suggested as a possible cause.
*Illustrative imageNotch signaling and tumor suppression
The lab detects changes in Notch receptor glycans in normal and tumor tissue, aiming to control Notch signaling and suppress tumors based on glycan structure and function. It has created Notch reporter cells that express a fluorescent gene when a ligand binds, and also examines the effects of glycan changes.
*Illustrative imageStructural analysis of glycoproteins and drug discovery
The lab performs glycoproteomic analysis, using mass spectrometry to examine the structure of glycans attached to specific proteins. It excels at analyzing technically difficult glycans such as those on the Notch receptor, and aims to apply this to drug discovery by testing their significance as biomarkers for diagnosis and prevention.
*Illustrative imageGlycans as a cause of rare diseases
The lab examines the effects of genetic mutations found in patients with rare diseases, using cultured cells with mutations introduced by genome editing and genetically modified mice, and takes on the challenge of elucidating how the disease develops. It also uses confocal fluorescence imaging and structure prediction with AlphaFold3.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, researchers, professors emeritus, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, a lab secretary, technical staff, and technical assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorTetsuya Okajima
- Project ProfessorAkinori Nakamura
- Project Associate ProfessorMak Kwok Kei
- LecturerYuko Tashima
- LecturerYuji Kondo
- Project Assistant ProfessorNoboru Hashimoto
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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: “Biochemistry Lab - Tirunelveli Medical College” Kallidaimaniac (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Notch receptor glycans and neurodegenerative disease: “Aripiprazole bound to Dopamine D2 Receptor docking model” EpsilonVisuals / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Notch signaling and tumor suppression: “Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells Fluorescent Image” Erin Rod / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Structural analysis of glycoproteins and drug discovery: “Thermo - Finnigan LCQ Mass Spectrometer ( )” Kitmondo Marketplace / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Glycans as a cause of rare diseases: “Binder CB 210 incubator interior” Shinryuu / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (分子細胞薬理学【薬理学】): “Microscope à fluorescence (Ifremer )” Olivier Dugornay / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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): “Smartphone colorimetry – 96-well microplate with serial dilutions of coloured solutions” Mdc-science / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (機能組織学【解剖学第二】): “The neuroscience imaging lab” Rosario Gulino / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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験動物科学): “GelDoc DNA gel electrophoresis photograph stained with ethidium bromide 01” Sgroey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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