A5055220053- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Pineapple and bromelain studies
- Synthesis and biological activity
- Crystallography and molecular interactions
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- RNA modifications and cancer
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
The University of Tokyo
1994-2025
Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
2011-2024
SPring-8
2023
Robert Bosch (Germany)
2023
Gunma University
2020
Life University
2017
Iwate Medical University
2007-2008
Tokyo University of Science
1995-2007
Center for Genomic Science
2007
Aoyama Gakuin University
2007
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been identified as the causative agent for current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. 3CL protease (3CLpro) plays a pivotal role in processing of viral polyproteins. We report peptidomimetic compounds with unique benzothiazolyl ketone warhead group, which display potent activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. most inhibitor YH-53 can strongly block replication. X-ray structural analysis revealed that establishes multiple hydrogen bond interactions...
Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a hormone indispensable for maintaining phosphate homeostasis. In response to intake, FGF23 secreted from osteocytes/osteoblasts and acts on the kidney increase urinary excretion. However, mechanism by which these cells sense intake remains elusive. Calciprotein particles are nanoparticles of calcium-phosphate precipitates bound serum protein fetuin-A generated spontaneously in solution containing calcium, phosphate, be dispersed as colloids. cultured...
Carnivorous plants are known to secrete acid proteinases digest prey, mainly insects, for nitrogen uptake. In the present study, we have purified, first time, homogeneity two (nepenthesins I and II) from pitcher fluid of Nepenthes distillatoria (a pitcher-plant locally as badura) investigated their enzymic structural characteristics. Both enzymes were optimally active at pH approx. 2.6 towards acid-denatured haemoglobin; specificity nepenthesin oxidized insulin B chain appears be similar,...
Abstract mRNA export is an essential pathway for the regulation of gene expression. In humans, closely related RNA helicases, UAP56 and URH49, shape selective pathways through formation distinct complexes, known as apo-TREX apo-AREX their subsequent remodeling into similar ATP-bound complexes. Therefore, defining unidentified components complex elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying apo-complexes key to understanding functional divergence. this study, we identify additional physically...
The rice class I chitinase OsChia1b, also referred to as RCC2 or Cht-2, is composed of an N-terminal chitin-binding domain (ChBD) and a C-terminal catalytic (CatD), which are connected by proline- threonine-rich linker peptide. Because the ability inhibit fungal growth, OsChia1b gene has been used produce transgenic plants with enhanced disease resistance. As initial step toward elucidating mechanism hydrolytic action antifungal activity, full-length structure was analyzed X-ray...
Abstract Background Oxytocin may provide a novel treatment for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous results regarding efficacy repeated or higher dose oxytocin are controversial, and underlying mechanisms including interactions with other molecules remain unclear. Aims & Objectives The current study is aimed to clarify whether alter plasma cytokine levels in relation clinical improvements social symptom. Method We analyzed concentrations using...
Polyglutamine diseases are inherited neurodegenerative caused by the expanded polyglutamine proteins (polyQs). We have identified a novel guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) named CRAG that contains nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence and forms inclusions in response to stress. After ultraviolet irradiation, interacted with induced an enlarged ring-like structure of promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) body GTPase-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated polyQ...
Abl interactor (Abi) family proteins play significant roles in actin cytoskeleton organization through participation the WAVE complex. Mammals possess three Abi proteins: Abi-1, Abi-2, and NESH/Abi-3. Abi-1 Abi-2 were originally identified as tyrosine kinase-binding proteins. It has been disclosed that acts a bridge between c-Abl WAVE2, c-Abl-mediated WAVE2 phosphorylation promotes remodeling. We showed previously NESH/Abi-3 is present complex, but neither binds to nor of WAVE2. In this...
Various cell engineering techniques have been developed by leveraging the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, but large-scale resources for targeted gene knock-in are still limited. Here we introduce a tool kit tagging genes inserting artificial exons encoding fluorescent protein tags in target introns. To produce cells efficiently and reproducibly, carefully chose catalogued guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting human mouse genomes taking gRNA efficacy scores structures around insertion sites into account. So...
SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein-attachment protein receptor) proteins involved in membrane usually contain a conserved α-helix (SNARE motif) that is flanked by C-terminal transmembrane domain. They can be classified into Q-SNARE and R-SNARE based on the structural property of their motifs. Assembly four motifs (Qa, b, c R) supposed to trigger fusion. We have previously shown ER (endoplasmic reticulum)-localized syntaxin 18 (Qa) forms complex with BNIP1 (Qb), p31/Use1...
Bromelain inhibitor VI from pineapple stem (BI-VI) is a unique double-chain with an 11-residue light chain and 41-residue heavy by disulfide bonds inhibits the cysteine proteinase bromelain competitively. The structure of BI-VI in aqueous solution was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy simulated annealing-based calculations. Its three-dimensional shown to be composed two distinct domains, each which formed three-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet. Unexpectedly, found...
Aspergillopepsin II (EC 3.4.23.6) secreted from the fungus Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus is a non-pepsin-type acid proteinase. It consists of two polypeptide chains (i.e., heavy chain and light chain), which are bound noncovalently to each other. The pH titration analysis using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as well circular dichroism (CD) gel filtration indicated that enzyme was unfolded around neutral with concomitant dissociation chains. Detailed analyses showed midpoint values...
Amino acid sequences in H2O2-oxidized bovine serum albumin (BSA) that are susceptible to proteolytic cleavage by oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH) were investigated. When BSA was treated with OPH, low-molecular-weight fragments (54, 46, 24, 22, 20, and 8 kDa) produced as analyzed SDS-PAGE. N-Terminal amino sequence analysis of these indicated -was cleaved OPH at three major sites, Leu218-Ser219, Tyr410-Thr411, Phe506-Thr507, an early stage the degradation. In three-dimensional structure...
Aspergillopepsin II from Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus is a non-pepsin type or pepstatin-insensitive acid proteinase. To identify the catalytic residues of enzyme, all acidic that are conserved in homologous proteinases family A4 were replaced with Asn, Gln, Ala using site-directed mutagenesis. The wild-type and mutant pro-enzymes heterologously expressed Escherichia coli refolded vitro. pro-enzyme was shown to be processed into two-chain active enzyme under conditions. Most recombinant...
Aspergilloglutamic peptidase (AGP, formerly called aspergillopepsin II) from Aspergillus niger var. macrosporus is a unique acid protease recently classified to the family G1. Our previous study using site-directed mutagenesis on glutamic and aspartic residues of AGP conserved among G1 suggested that Glu219 Asp123 (numbering in preproform) are important for catalytic activity. However, Asn mutant retained weak but significant activity therefore it was unclear whether an active site residue....
If both the transient electric conductivity increase and luminescence induced by plastic deformati on are ascribed to motion of dislocation there should be some similarity between decays current luminescence. Curves in KCl NaCl crystals at room temperature shown. (W.D.M.)
We investigated preliminary acute toxicity and primary skin irritation of nine pyrrolidone derivatives which had been previously developed as transdermal penetration enhancers. The was observed at a dose 500 mg/kg after intraperitoneal administration in mice. Their irritations were examined with rabbit dorsal skin. 1-Lauryl-2-pyrrolidone induced the most severe among derivatives. Pyrrolidone having methyl group methyloxycarbonyl caused little irritation. indices not relative to their...
Aspergilloglutamic peptidase from Aspergillus niger is a novel pepstatin-insensitive acid endopeptidase distinct the well-studied aspartic peptidases, and thus an interesting target for protein structure/function studies. In present study, we have determined three-dimensional structure of enzyme by X-ray crystallography to 1.4-Å resolution. The results revealed that has unique structure, composed two seven-stranded anti-parallel β-sheets which form β-sandwich appear partial two-fold...