Research on microbial enzymes that create non-protein amino acids and their applications

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05776
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 38020:Applied microbiology-related
• Research Institution: Fukui Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Maruyama Chitose 福井県立大学, 生物資源学部, 准教授 (20452120)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 非タンパク性アミノ酸 / 二次代謝産物 / 生合成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nonproteinogenic amino acids (NPAA) have a crucial role as intermediates of amino acid metabolism, neurotransmitters in vivo, and components of natural products. We aim to discover the novel NPAAs and the valuable enzymes involved in the NPAA biosynthesis via the study of peptide natural product biosynthesis. The most significant feature of NPAA is its unique bioactivity due to its chemical structure and physical properties. Moreover, the biosynthetic enzymes involved in the NPAA formation are worthy of academic interest and industrial use. Therefore, in peptide-drug discovery, the demand for NPAAs and NPAA biosynthetic enzymes is expected to expand in the future further. Thus, we focused on the structural diversity of peptide natural products produced by microorganisms as a new exploratory resource for NPAAs.

Free Research Field

応用微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年の創薬研究では、これまでに解明された生体メカニズムを基に標的分子（タンパク質）に対して作用する医薬品を、合理的に設計する「分子標的治療薬の創成」が試みられている。特にペプチドや抗体などの中分子ペプチド創薬への期待が高まっている。申請者らが提案するNPAAのペプチド・抗体創薬分野への利用は、中分子ペプチドの構造多様性創出に寄与することができ、さらにはプロテアーゼによる分解を阻害するなどの知見からも、新規中分子ペプチド創薬の開発を加速することが期待される。