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Pharmacogenomics and Genomic Drug Discovery Lab
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The lab searches for drugs for obesity and metabolic diseases, starting from receptors that sense fatty acids.
AboutAbout the lab
From receptors to drugs for metabolic disease.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are sensor molecules that relay information into the cell. They are often involved in disease and are one of the main targets of drugs. However, for many of them, the substance they bind to (the ligand) is unknown.
The Pharmacogenomics and Genomic Drug Discovery field searches for the ligands of receptors whose ligands are unknown, and it discovered a new fatty acid receptor, GPR120. The lab has shown that GPR120 promotes hormone secretion when stimulated by dietary fatty acids, and that it is related to obesity in both mice and humans.
Every year, undergraduate students are assigned to the lab for their graduation research.
Key terms
- GPCR
- G protein-coupled receptor. A receptor in the cell membrane that relays signals from outside into the cell. It is the target of many drugs
- Ligand
- A substance that binds to a receptor and triggers its action
- Orphan receptor
- A receptor whose binding substance (ligand) is not yet known
- Transcriptome analysis
- An analysis that comprehensively examines the genes (RNA) that are active in a cell
ResearchResearch themes
For fatty acid receptors, represented by GPR120, the lab aims to quickly find disease-related target molecules and to uncover their physiological roles.
*Illustrative imageFatty acid receptors and metabolic syndrome
By searching for the ligands of orphan receptors, the lab discovered the fatty acid receptor GPR120. It has shown that GPR120 could be a therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome, and it studies the physiological roles of fatty acid receptors.
*Illustrative imageSearching for drug candidates by computer
Because testing large numbers of compounds experimentally is difficult in terms of cost, the lab predicts compound activity using docking simulation and molecular dynamics.
*Illustrative imageNarrowing down drug targets from gene expression
The lab uses microarrays and RNA sequencing to find gene expression patterns specific to diseases, and aims to quickly identify drug discovery targets through transcriptome analysis.
MembersFaculty
- Associate ProfessorAkira Hirasawa
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: “Rasyslami” The original uploader was (Automated conversion) at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Fatty acid receptors and metabolic syndrome: “Brown fat cell” https://www.scientificanimations.com/ / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Searching for drug candidates by computer: “Docking” Chaos / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Narrowing down drug targets from gene expression: “DNA nanoball Array” Suspencewl / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Signaling Pharmacology Lab): “202304 G protein-coupled receptor” DataBase Center for Life Science (DBCLS) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Mathematical Therapeutics Lab): “Iodine pills” Mx. Granger / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Systems Biology Lab): “Circadian rhythm labeled” National Institute of General Medical Sciences / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Tissue Formation Dynamics Lab): “Drosophila suzukii” Katja Schulz / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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