Development of a highly selective bioconjugation method using protein interactions

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K19331
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 47:Pharmaceutical sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Kunishima Munetaka 金沢大学, 薬学系, 教授 (10214975)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 三代 憲司 金沢大学, 新学術創成研究機構, 准教授 (60776079) ; 藤田 光 金沢大学, 薬学系, 助教 (40782850) ; 松本 拓也 金沢大学, 薬学系, 助教 (40800214) ; 松永 司 金沢大学, 薬学系, 教授 (60192340)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 抗体 / バイオコンジュゲーション

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Chemical modification of proteins plays an important role in the elucidation of protein functions and the development of protein based drugs such as antibody-drug conjugates. Therefore, techniques for chemical modification of specific positions of proteins have been demanded. In this project, we conducted research with the goal of developing "protein catalysts" by introducing a catalytic function near the target recognition site of a protein with target recognition ability. As a result, using a specific antibody as a model, we have succeeded in developing a novel methodology in which the vicinity of the antigen-recognition site is specifically modified, and the antigen-binding ability is retained even after the chemical modification. By expanding this technology, it can be expected to be used for various applications as well as the development of protein catalyst in the future.

Free Research Field

有機化学　ケミカルバイオロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発を目指したタンパク質の修飾技術は、ケミカルバイオロジー分野から、疾患の基礎的なメカニズム解明、さらにその診断、治療まで、非常に幅広い分野で高い需要がありながら未だ発展途上の技術である。今回代表者らが開発した技術は、現在、他の研究グループによって進められている取り組みとは全く異なるアプローチによるものであり、他の手法が抱える課題を解決できる可能性をもっている。よって、新規技術開発という点から高い学術的意義をもち、同時にその成果は生命科学研究の推進から医療の発展にまで繋がり得る点で高い社会的意義をもつ。