RESEARCH

Biomolecule analysis

Development of metabolic analysis technologies

Living organisms use metabolic functions to obtain energy for survival from nutrients such as glucose and to synthesize building blocks for cell division. We develop analytical methods to quantify the activity of central carbon metabolism, a fundamental system of cellular function. In particular, we focus on the analysis of metabolite levels, metabolic fluxes and metabolic enzymes. In collaboration with Shimadzu Corporation, we have developed the analytical platform for the measurement of intermediates and metabolic enzymes in central carbon metabolism. These methods have successfully revealed the detailed metabolic flows and their regulation in central carbon metabolism of yeast and cancer cells. We will continue to develop the technology to acquire, process and integrate the huge data from dynamic and multilayered cell systems.

Biosystem analysis and its modification

Trans-omics analysis and computer simulations

To extract the important knowledge from multi-dimensional cellular system, it is necessary to discover the regularity and abnormality in huge analysis data and link the data to phenotype. Now, we are promoting the project "Metabolic Adaptation in Drug Resistance" (Scientific Research on Innovative Areas, Trans-omics Analysis of Metabolic Adaptation) to understand the mechanism of metabolic adaptation under pesticide and anti-cancer drug treatment by integrated analysis of multi-layer data (metabolites, metabolic flux and metabolic enzymes) in central carbon metabolism. Another major project is the elucidation of the mechanism of robust ethanol fermentation activity in yeast, an important industrial microorganism, using dynamic computer simulations of central carbon metabolism based on analytical data.

Developing massive modification technology for living systems

Recently, we have been able to modify the genetic information of living systems. At present, what we can modify is limited to the information encoded in the DNA of the genome. The information of living systems is also encoded in other parts of the cells, such as the cytoplasm, the lipid composition in the membrane, and so on. However, we do not have technologies to modify this information. Our group is trying to develop technologies to rewrite the information of whole living systems based on the above analytical methods.