Visualizing protein motions using molecular photoswitching

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02695
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 32010:Fundamental physical chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto University (2023); Osaka University (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Misao Mizuno 京都大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (10464257)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 時間分解共鳴ラマン分光法 / タンパク質 / 分子光スイッチング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To visualize chemical reactions associated with structural changes in a wide range of proteins, time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopic methods were developed using ultrafast molecular photoswitching. The photoreaction of a small molecule, such as photoisomerization of azobenzene introduced into the protein backbone, was used for switching to form three-dimensional structures of targeted proteins. We did not obtain sufficient amount of photoswitching protein samples for spectroscopic measurements. The time-resolved spectroscopy system was improved from the existing system. We demonstrated that the performance of the spectroscopic system was sufficient to follow the chemical reactions of targeted proteins.

Free Research Field

タンパク質分子科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

分子光スイッチングは、生体分子の高速な構造制御を可能にする。ダイナミクス計測技術が進展し、スイッチ分子の多岐化・導入部位のノウハウの蓄積により、より汎用性の高い実験手法へと拡張できる。光スイッチングは、機能性高分子に対する応用も可能である。これにより、光を利用した機能性分子の反応制御が大いに期待できる。