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Biomacromolecular Chemistry Lab
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A lab that uses NMR to observe moving proteins at the atomic level in search of clues to healthy longevity.
AboutAbout the lab
Finding clues to healthy longevity in the movements of life.
The Biomacromolecular Chemistry Lab studies proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases, thrombosis, long-term memory, and the regulation of the epigenome.
Mainly using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the lab analyzes at the atomic level the dynamic structures of proteins, which change according to the environment inside the body.
The lab also develops its own NMR instruments that can measure molecules under flow, light, and electric fields.
Undergraduates are assigned to the lab in their fourth year (graduate school: Graduate School of Agriculture, Division of Applied Life Sciences).
Key terms
- NMR
- Nuclear magnetic resonance. A method that measures molecules in a strong magnet to investigate their structure and movement at the atomic level
- Amyloid fibril
- A fibril formed when proteins abnormally aggregate. It causes neurodegenerative diseases and other disorders
- Chromatin
- A folded structure in the cell nucleus in which DNA is wrapped around proteins
NewsLab news
A paper from joint research with the Graduate School of Medicine was published in J Am Chem Soc
A press release was issued on a doctoral student's findings published in J Biol Chem
ResearchResearch themes
Aiming for a healthy and long-lived society, the lab studies changes in protein structure, liquid-liquid phase separation, and the mechanisms by which amyloid fibrils form. By recreating the dynamic environment of the body inside an NMR sample tube, it investigates how proteins function and what their properties are.
*Illustrative imageThe constantly changing environment inside the body
Inside the body, ATP concentrations change, and there are neuronal electric fields and blood flow. It has become clear that these environmental changes are linked to protein function and disease. The lab recreates such environments inside an NMR sample tube to study them.
*Illustrative imageMeasuring proteins in flow
The lab has developed a Rheo-NMR instrument that can take NMR measurements while generating flow. It can identify the sites where proteins become unstable under flow and can measure in situ the process by which amyloid fibrils form.
*Illustrative imageSuppressing abnormal aggregation with food components
Neurodegenerative diseases and thrombosis, which are major causes of needing nursing care, are caused by abnormal aggregation of proteins. The lab aims to suppress this aggregation with food components and thereby contribute to a healthy and long-lived society.
*Illustrative imageChromatin dynamics and disease
Chromatin, which packages DNA, changes its structure through modifications, and this alters gene activity. Focusing on the fluctuating regions of proteins, the lab examines their movements at the atomic level, aiming to understand the mechanisms involved in psychiatric disorders and other diseases.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Biomacromolecular Chemistry Lab consist of faculty, secretaries, researchers, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.
- ProfessorKenji Sugase
- Associate ProfessorAyako Furukawa
- Assistant ProfessorMasatomo So
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: “Ribbon view of the Orange Carotenoid Protein Structure 1M98” . The original uploader was Melnicki at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The constantly changing environment inside the body: “TriosePhosphateIsomerase Ribbon pastel photo” Jane Richardson / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Measuring proteins in flow: “NMR tubes2” Edgar181 at English Wikipedia / Public domain (cropped)
- Suppressing abnormal aggregation with food components: “Green tea - Green tea - Flickr - Kanko” Kanko* from Nagasaki, Japan / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Chromatin dynamics and disease: “30nm Chromatin Structures” Zephyris at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell Biology of Energy Conversion Lab): “Budding yeast cell walls model. 3D printed” Rosser1954 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plant Molecular Biology (Gene Function and Expression) Lab): “Marchantia polymorpha HC1” Holger Casselmann / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell Biochemistry Lab): “Wavy collagen” PW31 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fermentation Control Lab): “Malaria Fermenter ( )” NIAID / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
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