Multi-scale platform for untangling physiological complexity

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Multi-scale platform for untangling physiological complexity
• Project/Area Number: 21H05111
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (II)
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Saitoh Tsuyoshi 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 准教授 (80609933)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 井上 飛鳥 東北大学, 薬学研究科, 教授 (50525813) ; 寿野 良二 関西医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (60447521) ; 櫻井 勝康 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 准教授 (70507920)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-23 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: オピオイド受容体 / Gタンパク質共役型受容体 / シグナル伝達 / クライオ電子顕微鏡単粒子解析 / 神経回路 / 創薬化学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research area aims to establish an integrated platform for next-generation rational drug discovery by collecting and utilizing high-dimensional information across molecular, cellular, and organismal scales. Specifically, it focuses on constructing and applying a novel information collection platform that integrates rapid protein complex structure analysis at the molecular level, comprehensive intracellular signaling pathway analysis at the cellular level, and drug-stimulus-dependent neural cell labeling at the organismal level. To achieve this goal, we established an inter-group communication platform to share research progress by leveraging online environments. Additionally, to disseminate our research activities, we hosted and co-hosted several symposiums. These efforts have established a foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from different fields, promoting new fusion research areas.

Free Research Field

創薬化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究を通じて、オピオイド受容体を始めとするGPCRの作用、構造、シグナル、神経回路に関する網羅的かつ高品質な情報を取得するプラットフォームが構築できることが示された。これにより、これまで困難であった動的に機能するタンパク質を標的とした創薬において、作用に紐付く意味のある構造情報を基にした分子設計手法の開発に繋がると考えられ、医療の進展に大きく寄与することが期待される。