Creation of Glycoconjugated Meddle Molecules for Realizing Glyco-medicine

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Middle molecular strategy: Creation of higher bio-functional molecules by integrated synthesis.
• Project/Area Number: 15H05836
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Science and Engineering
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Fukase Koichi 大阪大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (80192722)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 下山 敦史 大阪大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (90625055) ; 真鍋 良幸 大阪大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (00632093)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 中分子 / 糖鎖 / 反応集積

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have synthesized many glycans and glycoconjugates. We also evaluate their biological functions. In this study, we developed a highly efficient method for the synthesis of useful glycans and glycoconjugates using integrated synthesis to achieve a quantitative supply of these compounds. Immunological function of synthesized compounds was also evaluated. In addition, we created various glycoconjugates, including cancer vaccines. These functional-integrated middle molecules have emergent functions. These compounds are expected to be the seeds of next-generation drugs. These studies were carried out in collaboration with a number of researchers.

Free Research Field

天然物化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

糖鎖は，感染，炎症，生体防御，がんなどの重要な生命現象に関与するが，構造が複雑でかつ多くの場合不均一であるために，分子構造に基づいた生物機能解明が大きな研究課題である．また近年，糖鎖は医薬品のターゲットとして重要視されているが，合成による量的供給が困難であるため，糖鎖医薬はほとんど実現されていない．本研究で，糖鎖合成の基盤技術を発展させたことで，糖鎖合成を大きく効率化することができた．加えて，糖鎖による免疫制御を積極的に検討し，糖鎖医薬のシーズとなる化合物の創製にも成功した．これらの成果は，糖鎖科学の発展のみならず，有機合成化学から，生物学，免疫学に及ぶ幅広い分野に大きなインパクトを与えた．