Unraveling the mechanism of kinetic regulation in biomolecular folding

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Kinetics-Driven Supramolecular Chemistry
• Project/Area Number: 21H05094
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (II)
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: SAIO Tomohide 徳島大学, 先端酵素学研究所, 教授 (80740802)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-23 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: タンパク質フォールディング / 結合キネティクス / シャペロン / 過渡構造

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research area, we have focused on kinetic controls seen in life and biomolecules. This study tried to elucidate the mechanism of kinetic control in biomolecular structure formation. In particular, we focused on “chaperones” that recognize immature proteins in the process of folding and control the folding process, and worked to elucidate the mechanism by which chaperones recognize substrate proteins and control folding. We have conducted interdisciplinary joint research that incorporates multiple measurement, analytical, and computational techniques in close collaboration within our research area, and have expanded the understanding of the mechanisms for protein folding mediated by chaperones.

Free Research Field

生体関連化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，これまで詳細なメカニズムが不明であった，シャペロンによるタンパク質フォールディング制御について，速度論の視点を取り入れた新たな戦略によってメカニズムを解明した．本研究で明らかにされたメカニズムは，多種のタンパク質を基質としながら機能的な特異性を発揮するシャペロンの特徴的な作用機序を説明するものであり，構造生物学研究に新たな視点を取り入れた点において，高い学術的意義を有する．さらに，本研究で明らかになったシャペロンの動的な作用機序は，抗体などのバイオ医薬品の生産や次世代のタンパク質設計における基盤的理解をもたらした点において，高い社会的意義を有すると判断できる．