Precise microspectroscopic measurements to complement time-resolved X-ray crystallography

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Non-equilibrium-state molecular movies and their applications
• Project/Area Number: 19H05784
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Complex systems
• Research Institution: University of Hyogo
• Principal Investigator: Kubo Minoru 兵庫県立大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (90392878)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 木村 哲就 神戸大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (70506906) ; 古谷 祐詞 名古屋工業大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80432285)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 時間分解分光測定 / 動的構造解析 / 振動分光 / 蛍光分光 / 紫外可視分光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Proteins work like machines in our bodies by changing their shape. In the MEXT program for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas, "Molecular Movies," the changes in protein shape were recorded as movies using a novel X-ray technique. To complement the movie, we used microspectroscopy to analyze the movements of electrons and protons inside proteins. The results revealed how proteins function at the chemical level. The proteins studied here cover a wide range of biological functions. They include a microbial protein that uses light energy for ion transport, an amphibian protein involved in DNA repair, a fungal protein involved in the nitrogen cycle, and a jellyfish luminescent protein.

Free Research Field

生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果は、構造生物学分野を化学分野と融合させるものであった。また、タンパク質がはたらく仕組みを化学的に理解することは、今後社会に役立つ人工タンパク質をデザインするイノベイティブな応用研究を展開するうえで基盤を築くものであった。実際に本研究で仕組みを明らかにした光で動作するタンパク質は、光遺伝学（光で神経細胞などの活動を制御する技術）で応用されるものであり、本研究成果はその発展に不可欠な知見を与えた。