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Chihiro Sato

ChairDivision of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: PolySia, Sialic acid, molecular interaction, acidic polysaccharide, disease, mental disease, cancer

Research subject: Glycans cover cell surface in all organisms and maintain cellular homeostasis by mediating cell-cell and cell-extracellular communication. Abnormal glycan structures cause various dysfunctions and diseases (mental disease, cancer, etc). We conduct interdisciplinary research covering medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural sciences, aiming at contributing to better health, environment and food, by understanding and regulating glycan functions at molecular, cellular, tissue, and individual levels. In particular, we conduct basic research on the structures and functions of PolySia as well as applied science such as development of probes. We try to conduct research from wide viewpoints, covering from evolution to disease.

Tetsuya Okajima

Division headDivision of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: O-GlcNAc, mass spectrometry, disease

Research subject: We have so far identified novel glycans and revealed their functions, by focusing on Notch receptor which is involved in tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. We try to further understand glycan functions and develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting glycans. In addition, by using advanced recent techniques for analyzing glycopeptide with mass spectrometry, we will conduct medical and drug discovery studies.

Hiroshi Abe

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Tomoo Ogi

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Genome analysis in disease, genome instability

Research subject: We use cutting-edge techniques, such as next-generation genome analysis and next-generation transcriptomics. We aim to identify novel gene variants responsible for diseases and to reveal molecular functions of gene variants. We also try to elucidate pathology using disease model mice.

Takayuki Uchihashi

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: High-speed atomic force microscope (AFM), single molecule measurement, dynamics, protein

Research subject: By using HS-AFM, we develop methods for analyzing single molecule dynamics. Using single molecule imaging, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of how proteins exert their functions.

Atsunori Oshima

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Structural biology, membrane protein, cryo-EM, cell-cell communication, membrane lipid

Research subject: To understand signal transduction via plasma membrane, we mainly analyze membrane proteins. In detail, we try to reveal open-close mechanisms of channels, recognition mechanisms of ligands or compounds by pumps and GPCRs. We also try to develop and optimize techniques of sample preparation for high-resolution structural analysis using cryo-EM. We use methods for reconstitution of membrane proteins into lipid nanodiscs for structural analysis.

Yoshikatsu Matsubayashi

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Arapidopsis thaliana, O-linked glycan, arabinose, arabinogalactan protein

Research subject: Two types of protein glycosylation are known, N-linked and O-linked glycans. The basic biosynthetic mechanisms of the N-glycans are similar between plants and animals. On the other hand, non-reducing end sugars and amino acids to which O-glycans are attached differ greatly between plants and animals, and it is known that arabinose and galactose are added to hydroxyproline (Hyp) in plants. We discovered the glycosyltransferases involved in Hyp O-arabinosylation and galactosylation and investigate various physiological functions of O-glycans in plants by phenotypic analysis of the strains deficient in these enzymes.

Kazuma Sakamoto

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Axon regeneration, neurodegeneration, lysosome

Research subject: We would like to elucidate the neuropathology mediated by glycans at the molecular level. In particular, we are interested in the morphological abnormalities of neurons caused by glycans and their deficiency. We hope that our research results contribute to the axon regeneration and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.

Takahiro Shibata

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Oxidative stress, posttranslational modification, food component, extracellular vesicle, bioactive lipid

Research subject: We analyze the mechanisms of activity of food components for preventing lifestyle-related diseases. In addition, we search for disease markers focusing on oxidative stress-induced posttranslational modifications and extracellular vesicles.

Yu Nakagawa

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Natural compound, carbohydrate recognition, antibiotics, molecular design, analysis of molecular interaction

Research subject: We focus on natural small compounds that bind to biologically or pathologically important glycans, and we analyze the molecular mechanisms for the binding. Based on this knowledge, we develop molecular tools for glycoscience and drug leads targeting glycans by chemical modification of the natural products.

Yuji Kondo

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Tissue expression profiling of glycosyltransferases, Reverse genetics, Click-chemistry, single cell RNA analysis, super resolution microscope

Research subject: By using advanced technologies, I try to establish a system that allows us to analyze endogenous glycan structures and functions on particular proteins at single cell level.

Masaya Hane

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: PolySia, sialic acid, molecular interaction, anti-glycan antibody

Research subject: Aiming at research from a broad perspective ranging from evolution to disease, we conduct basic research on the structures and functions of polysialic acid (Polysia), their relationship to disease, and applied research such as development of probes.

Shiori Go

Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics

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Research interests: Glycolipid, glycoproteomics, intracellular trafficking

Research subject: We focus on glycosphingolipids, a component of cell membranes, and neurodegenerative diseases, and we analyze glycolipid metabolism and transport in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the dynamic changes in cell membrane proteins caused by changes in glycolipid composition. In recent years, we have focused on Glycosyltransferase 8 domain containing 1 (GLT8D1), a glycosyltransferase with unknown function that has been newly identified as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We aim to identify the functions of the enzyme and elucidate its effects on neurons.

Kenji Kadomatsu

DirectorDivision of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Glycan, synapse, axon, neuroblastoma, renal disease

Research subject: We aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which glycans regulate physiological functions in the nervous system, especially synaptogenesis and axon elongation. We also study a wide range of molecular pathology, including neuroblastoma, a pediatric solid tumor, and metabolic diseases such as renal diseases.

Ken Kitajima

Division headDivision of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Integrated glycobiology, glycan metabolism, glyco-developmental biology, defective sialic acid metabolism and disease, evolution of sialic acid metabolism

Research subject: Disruption of genes for glycan metabolism often does not affect cell survival, whereas that causes various pathological conditions and death in individuals. To understand glycan-related biological phenomena at the molecular level, we need to take an integrated glycobiology approach encompassing molecules, cells, and individuals. We particularly focus on sialic acid. Using reverse genetics in medaka fish, we modify genes for sialic acid metabolism to alter domain functions, complex formation, and subcellular localization. We observe the individual phenotypes, as well as conduct integrated omics analysis involving genes, proteins, and glycans.

Kinji Ohno

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Neuromuscular junction, congenital myasthenic syndrome, glycosyltransferase, RNA metabolism, biodata science

Research subject: Congenital myasthenic syndromes are a group of disorders caused by inborn variants of genes expressed at the neuromuscular junction. 34 causative genes have been identified, 4 of which are glycosyltransferase genes. We conduct research on the mechanisms by which defects in ubiquitous glycosyltransferases display impaired neural transmission only at the neuromuscular junction and treatment of these disorders.

Norio Ozaki

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Mental disease, genome, model mouse, iPS cell, postmortem brain

Research subject: We investigate the pathogenesis of mental disorders by identifying genomic variants that are strongly associated with the onset of mental disorders. Specifically, we investigate molecular and neural circuit pathologies using iPS cells and postmortem brains derived from patients with genomic variants associated with the onset of mental disorders, and mouse models mimicking the genomic variants. We focus on variants of glycan-related genes and the involvement of glycans in neural development and neural circuit formation, aiming to elucidate the pathophysiology of mental disorders and develop diagnostic and therapeutic methods based on the pathophysiology of mental disorders.

Masahisa Katsuno

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, oligonucleotide therapy, protein aggregation

Research subject: We focus on the pathogenesis and treatment of motor neuron diseases and Lewy body diseases (Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies). For the pathogenesis, we mainly use mouse models and patient samples to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis at very early stages of the disease by omics and neuronal circuit analysis. For treatment, we administer small compounds and nucleic acid drugs to animal models and analyze the efficacy. For Lewy body diseases, we conduct a cohort study of high-risk individuals before the onset of the disease, and conduct a prospective longitudinal analysis of neurofunctional assessment, imaging, and blood biomarkers.

Yutaka Kondo

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Epigenetics, non-coding RNA, cancer

Research subject: The interactions among proteins, DNA, and RNA in the cell nucleus cannot be explained simply by random molecular diffusion, and some regulatory mechanism probably promotes the interactions efficiently and specifically. We study the mechanism by which RNA and epigenome-related proteins are regulated by chemical modifications, including glycosylation, in cancer cells and contribute to carcinogenesis.

Hiroshi I. Suzuki

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Cancer, genome, RNA, glycan, data science

Research subject: Various glycosylation abnormalities have long been known in cancer. By integrating large-scale data sets of genomic aberrations, RNA expression, and CRISPR-based essential gene screening in cancer, we build a platform to analyze the differences in mechanisms of glycan regulation between normal and cancer cells, and the relationship between cancer and glycans.

Hiroyoshi Nishikawa

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Immunity, tumor immunity, immune surveillance, immune tolerance

Research subject: Immune system discriminates self from non-self, eliminates non-self such as microorganisms, and plays important roles in a wide range of biological processes. In cancer, the immune system eliminates abnormal cells and suppresses carcinogenesis (immunosurveillance), but cancer cells eventually acquire various immunosuppressive mechanisms and escape from the immune system (immune escape) to become clinical "cancer". We conduct research to understand the homeostasis of the body maintained by the immune system and various pathological conditions caused by immune abnormalities, which will lead to an understanding of the most important issue in immunology, namely, from immune surveillance to immune escape.

Masahiko Hibi

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Zebrafish, medaka, genome editing, neurogenesis, neural function

Research subject: Using small fish such as zebrafish and medaka, we analyze the functions of genes involved in neurogenesis and also analyze neural circuits involved in higher order neuronal activity, through genome editing and generation of transgenic fish.

Koji Yamanaka

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Neurodegeneration, dementia, glia, organelle, quality control of protein

Research subject: We generate animal and cellular models and aim to elucidate the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia and to develop therapy. In particular, we conduct research to elucidate pathology from the viewpoints of neuron-glia linkage, organelle linkage (mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum), and abnormalities in protein and RNA metabolism.

Fumitaka Osakada

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: Brain, neural circuit, vision, pharmacology, viral vector, imaging, ES/iPS cell, organoid

Research subject: Many animals, including humans, recognize the external world based on sensory input and select appropriate actions. How is such functionality achieved by information processing in the brain and how is that processing impaired in neurological and psychiatric diseases? Our goal is to elucidate these questions in order to develop new treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. We conduct multidisciplinary research combining physiology, anatomy, and pharmacology with molecular biology, developmental biology, virology, behavioral psychology, optics, and informatics.

WU Di

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: CMP-sialic acid synthetase, sialylation, medaka

Research subject: I am assistant professor in Laboratory of Animal Cell Function, iGCORE (Nagoya University). My research targets on CMP-sialic acid synthetase (CSS), which is prerequisite for the expression of sialic acid (Sia)-containing glycoproteins and glycolipids, because CSS only provides all kinds of sialyltransferases with a donor substrate CMP-Sia. My final goal is to understand the biological significance of CSS at organism level. For this purpose, medaka (mdk) fish was chosen as a vertebrate model, various mutant medaka with a single amino acid substitution in CSS and specific CSS-domain knock-out medaka were established. To understand how CSS regulate sialylation through specific amino acids and domains at organism level, morphological changes and sialylation changes in these CSS mutant medaka strains are studied by biochemical analysis, histological analysis and glycomic analysis.

Yuko Tashima

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: O-glycan, Proteostasis, NOTCH

Research subject: We aim to elucidate the mechanism of O-glycan-mediated proteostasis (maintaining proper protein expression). We focus on NOTCH receptor, which is heavily O-glycosylated and plays key roles in the NOTCH signaling pathway essential for cell differentiation and homeostasis.

Kaori Kawai

Division of Glycan Regulation in Organism

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Research interests: EOGT, disease model animals, pathology, neurodegeneration

Research subject: We aim to elucidate the biological functions of EOGT, an EGF domain O-GlcNAc transferase responsible for extracellular O-GlcNAc modification. Currently, we use EOGT knockout mice to analyze the pathogenesis of vascular and neurological diseases.

Yusuke Matsui

Division headDivision of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Statistical science, informatics, computational biology, computational neuroscience, bioinformatics

Research subject: Life science is generating huge and complex data at an unprecedented rate. Various and heterogeneous big data are being accumulated, including next-generation sequencing technology, mass spectrometry to capture proteome and post-translational modifications, and sensing technology to capture imaging and biological information. It is quite important to utilize such large-scale big data in life science in order to reveal the mechanisms of unknown biological systems. Our mission is to develop useful mathematical modeling and data analysis methods in life science.

Takaya Arita

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Artificial life, evolution dynamics, meta-recognition

Research subject: How can life's adaptive processes (evolution, development, learning) generate vitality? and how can language, cognition, and altruism, which constitute human social intelligence, evolve in this process? We conduct research on artificial life to pursue the logic to answer these two questions using a constructive method.

Motonori Ota

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Structure bioinformatics, protein tertiary structure, naturally denatured protein, protein-protein interaction network

Research subject: Our research focuses on bioinformatics related to protein conformations and how interactions and conformational changes lead to functions. We also develop algorithms (methods) for data analysis and constructing databases.

Teppei Shimamura

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Bioinformatics, systems biology, data science, artificial intelligence

Research subject: Using digital biological information, cutting-edge data science and artificial intelligence (AI), we develop numerous informatics techniques to decipher vast amounts of biological information. We conduct medical research to identify ultra-early disease markers, accurately predict drug efficacy and disease recurrence, discover innovative molecularly targeted drugs, and elucidate and overcome the molecular mechanisms of disease.

Kensaku Mori

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Hiroyuki Kaji

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Glycoproteomics, glycome, proteome, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry

Research subject: We develop and apply techniques for comprehensive analysis of post-translational modifications of proteins, especially glycosylation, based on mass spectrometry. We comprehensively analyze the structures and sites of glycans and how glycans change in biological samples such as body fluids, cells, and tissues. By obtaining such information, we hope to contribute to the elucidation of the involvement of glycans in biological phenomena and to applied research such as the development of diagnostic markers and therapeutic agents targeting glycans.

Jun-ichi Furukawa

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Glycomics, glycoprotein, glycosphingolipid, glycosaminoglycan, free oligosaccharide, SALSA method

Research subject: Cell surface is covered with various glycans whose levels and structures are known to change dramatically with cellular conditions and the environments. Various classes of glycans are present, including complex glycoconjugates such as glycoproteins and glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans such as heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, and free oligosaccharides. We have developed a technique for comprehensive analysis of glycans and conduct total glycomics research on blood, cells, and tissues.

Morten Thaysen-Andersen

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Clinical glycoproteomics, Glycoimmunology, N-glycosylation, Cancer, Sepsis, Innate immunity

Research subject: The Glycoproteomics Lab@iGCORE develops and applies cutting-edge LC-MS/MS-based methods for quantitative and comparative glycoproteomics of human biospecimens to holistically explore elusive roles of protein N-glycosylation in human glycobiology with a particular focus on the innate immune system. The group uses high throughput glycoproteomics methods compatible with large clinical sample cohorts to study how the N-glycoproteome is remodelled with aberrant physiology and with various disorders including cancer, inflammation and infectious diseases.

Rebeca Kawahara

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Clinical glycoproteomics, multi-omics, data integration, glycosignatures, diseases

Research subject: The focus of my research at the Glycoproteomics Lab@iGCORE consists in developing and applying advanced mass spectrometry-based glycoanalytical methods and multi-omics data integration systems in large cohorts of clinical samples to enable comprehensive and holistic profile of the human glycoproteome and the discovery of new glycosignatures associated with human diseases.

Ryuji Kato

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Image analysis, cell morphology, cell adhesion, cell quality control

Research subject: We aim to develop cell image analysis technique for cell quality control and develop culture scaffold materials for controlling cell quality. For this purpose, we label glycolipids in cell membranes and search for glycan binding peptides in cell membranes.

Hisatoshi Hanamatsu

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Bingyuan ZHANG

Division of Glyco-Systems biology

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Research interests: Statistical Science, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics

Research subject: Massive amounts of data from innovative technologies such as sequencing, mass spectrometry techniques present new challenges and exciting opportunities. My mission is to develop useful mathematical tools based on state-of-the-art statistical and machine learning techniques to utilize these large-scale heterogeneous real-world data to discover new mechanisms in unknown biological systems and ultimately contribute to scientific discovery.

Hiromune Ando

Vice-DirectorDivision of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Carbohydrate chemistry, chemical biology, sialic acid, molecular probe, virus infection

Research subject: We particularly focus on the chemical synthesis of glycans containing sialic acid, which is a sugar present on the cell surface. Sialic acid-containing glycans are closely related to diseases, such as viral invasion and malignant transformation of cancer. We have developed a powerful method for chemical synthesis and succeeded in synthesizing more than 300 kinds of sialic acid-containing glycans. Recently, we have succeeded for the first time in the world in visualizing dynamically moving glycans in the plasma membrane of living cells through interdisciplinary research with biophysics. By further advancing such research, we aim to unveil the real picture of glycans, which has not been possible to observe, and to understand the functions of glycans in biological processes.

Yasuhiko Kizuka

ChairDivision of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Glycosyltransferase, N-glycan

Research subject: We focus on glycosyltransferases which form branching structures of N-glycans and try to reveal the regulation mechanisms of their activity and disease relevance. We take a biochemical approach in combination with structural biology, chemistry, and glycomics. We have revealed that deficient mice for a specific glycosyltransferase show the improved Alzheimer’s disease pathology, and tertiary structures and acceptor protein selectivity of cancer-related glycosyltransferase GnT-V and diabetes-related GnT-IV. Moreover, we develop glycan probes and glycosyltransferase inhibitors.

Yann GUERARDEL

Division headDivision of Glycan Structural Analysis

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Research interests: Glycomics、Structural analysis、Host-pathogen interactions、NMR、Mass Spectrometry

Research subject: I am a senior researcher for CNRS (Lille University, France) and an Invited Professor at iGCORE (Gifu University, Japan). I focus my research on the structure to function relationships of complex carbohydrates, from microorganisms to higher eukaryotes, mostly in the context of host-pathogen interaction. My main objective is to understand how the glycans from both host and pathogen fine tune the infectious process and how they may be used as diagnosis or therapeutic tools, with a keen interest for mycobacterial, fungus and viral infections. To reach this goal, I integrate a wide range of scientific approaches including synthetic chemistry, structural analysis using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, structural biology of proteins and enzymology.

Kenichi G. N. Suzuki

Division headDivision of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Single molecule imaging, super resolution imaging, glycolipid, GPI-anchored protein, signal transduction

Research subject: Using single molecule and super-resolution imaging techniques, we aim to elucidate the organization and functions of cell membranes. In particular, we aim to elucidate the roles of glycans in dynamic microdomain formation on living cell membranes and in the promotion and regulation of signal transduction.

Hideharu Ishida

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Bioactive compound, enzyme inhibitor, ligand of lectin, immune regulation

Research subject: We focus on proteins that recognize glycans (glycosidases and lectins) and design and synthesize their inhibitors or antagonists to develop biologically active compounds. We have succeeded in developing an inhibitor of influenza virus sialidase, a selective inhibitor that acts only on NEU1 among the four types of human sialidases, and an antagonist of the inhibitory B cell receptor siglec-2. These compounds have been applied to elucidate the pathogenesis of related diseases and to control biological reactions.

Tomio Yabe

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Proteoglycan, heparan sulfate, sulfation pattern, dietary fiber, intestinal epithelial cell

Research subject: We aim to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of physiological actions of heparan sulfate by controlling sulfation patterns in heparan sulfate. In particular, we focus on the mechanism of action of intestinal epithelial cells that respond specifically to the polysaccharide structure of dietary fiber. We analyze the mechanism by which heparan sulfate structures at the basement membrane are regulated by interaction between cell surface proteins and dietary fiber.

Masato Ikeda

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Supramolecular chemistry, nanobiomaterial, chemical biology

Research subject: We design and synthesize new hybrid molecules that have multiple molecules as modules, including glycans. We study their biological functions, construction of nanostructures by molecular assembly, and generation of biofunctional materials.

Morihisa Fujita

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Endoplasmic reticulum, intracellular trafficking, GPI-anchored protein, glycan remodeling

Research subject: We focus on the "life cycle of glycoproteins (biosynthesis, intracellular transport, and degradation)" and aim to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the life cycle of glycoproteins. In particular, we analyze the biosynthesis and intracellular dynamics of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins and paucimannose-containing glycoproteins using genetic, biochemical, and cytological methods. Furthermore, we aim to develop tools to visualize glycan metabolic pathways and to construct glycan-modified host cells, for producing biopharmaceutical glycoproteins.

Natsuhisa Oka

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Franoside, stereoselective synthesis, domino reaction, inositol, carbasugar

Research subject: We develop efficient methods for the synthesis of various chiral cyclopentenes and cyclohexenes by domino reaction using heteroarylsulfones derived from sugars. We will explore efficient routes to convert the resulting cyclopentenes and cyclohexenes into useful compounds such as bioactive natural products, inositol derivatives, and carbasugars.
　We also develop a highly stereoselective furanosylation reaction using iodinated sugars as glycosyl donors. This reaction proceeds with complete 1,2-cis selectivity and efficiently yields stereochemically pure furanosides. We aim to use this reaction for efficient synthesis of cell surface glycans.

Kazuki Nakajima

Division of Glycan Structural Analysis

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Research interests: Glycoproteomics, nucleotide sugar, automatic analysis

Research subject: We develop analytical techniques for rapid glycoproteomics and metabolomics to elucidate metabolic relationships between glycoproteins and glycans, and nucleotide sugars. High-throughput methods using chromatography and mass spectrometry will be established to promote analysis of large cohorts. In particular, by integrating robotics and systems through collaboration, we aim to fully automate plasma glycoproteomics, which has been difficult to achieve so far. In the future, we hope to discover glycan-related biomarkers for neurodegenerative and renal diseases and propose a new diagnostic system.

Hide-Nori Tanaka

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Glycan, ADP ribose chain, selective synthesis, protection-free synthesis, chemoenzymatic synthesis

Research subject: Based on synthetic chemistry, we aim to unveil and manipulate the biological functions of glycans and ADP-ribose chains, which are post-translational modifications of proteins.
　Synthetic chemistry is extremely important in life science research because it can provide molecules that are structurally homogeneous and pure, but the synthesis of these molecules requires a great deal of effort and time. This has been the bottleneck in research on both molecules. Therefore, I work on the rapid and efficient synthesis of glycans and ADP-ribose chains by using selective synthesis, protection-free synthesis, and chemoenzymatic synthesis. Our unique synthetic chemistry will break through the bottleneck and dramatically advance life science focusing on both molecules.

Naoko Komura

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Sialic acid, ganglioside, lipid rat

Research subject: We are engaged in chemistry study on sialic acid-containing glycans and chemical biology study using the synthesized glycans. In particular, we focuse on the functions of sialic acid-containing glycolipids (gangliosides) in lipid rafts, which are responsible for signal transduction on the cell membrane.

Akihiro Imamura

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: 有機合成、反応開発、糖脂質

Research subject: 有機化学的手法による糖鎖合成および糖の誘導化に必要な反応開発。単糖の誘導化からオリゴ糖、多糖まで幅広くターゲットにし、糖鎖科学の発展に寄与する糖誘導体を創出している。

Rinshi S. Kasai

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: G-protein coupled receptor, dimer/oligomer formation, secreted glycoprotein, in-plane cell polarity, single molecule imaging techniques

Research subject: Focusing on signal transduction pathways involved in cell polarity, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of novel intercellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles including secretory glycoprotein Wnt. In order to observe the molecules exchanged between cells and to quantify the intracellular signals generated by them, we develop and use several fluorescence microscope-based methods to study molecular behavior, such as single molecule tracking, dimer/oligomer quantification, and super-resolution observation.

Yoshinori Muto

Division of Glyco-Molecular Science

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Research interests: Bioinformatics, anaerobic bacteria, genome, sphingolipid, molecular evolution

Research subject: Using bioinformatics methods, we conduct comparative genomic and molecular evolutionary analyses of anaerobic bacteria to elucidate drug resistance and host symbiosis mechanisms. We also focus on the biological functions of sphingolipids in gut-commensal anaerobic bacteria, and study the molecular evolution of metabolic enzymes and their relationship to the host (human).

Kaori Tanaka

Division headDivision of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Infectious disease, clinical bacteria, anaerobic bacteria

Research subject: Our research focuses on the clinical bacteriology of commensal anaerobic bacteria which constitute the major endogenous flora of humans and animals. Endogenous infections involving commensal species are often mixed infections with facultative anaerobes, forming a pathogroup. The major Gram-negative rods tend to be multidrug-resistant and are thought to contribute directly or indirectly to the pathogenesis of the disease, but many aspects of the pathogenesis remain unresolved. This is an obstacle to appropriate clinical testing and chemotherapy. Epidemiologic studies of isolates and these drug resistances are examined, as well as the pathogenic significance of the biased anaerobes.

Hideki Nikami

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Animal experiment, animal welfare, developmental engineering, brown fat, sugar metabolism

Research subject: Education and development of all aspects of animal experiments (procedures, anesthesia, facility operation, laws and guidelines, animal welfare, etc.). The aim is to develop facility operation methods, animal experiments, and the handling of experimental animals in accordance with international guidelines and national laws.
In addition, we aim to elucidate the sugar metabolism and intracellular mechanisms of obesity and diabetes using genetically modified animals. We particularly focus on brown fat.

Haruhisa Suga

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Pathogenic gene, molecular diagnostics, drug resistance mechanisms, mycotoxins, genetic diversity

Research subject: In recent years, food safety, food shortages on a global scale, and the environmental impact of pesticides have become issues. In order to solve these problems, it is important to properly prevent crop diseases, and in particular, a deep understanding of the properties of pathogenic fungi is required. Our laboratory aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, pesticide resistance, and fungal toxin production, and genomic evolution mechanisms in Fusarium fungi, which are major plant pathogens, toxin-producing fungi, and opportunistic infectious pathogens of humans.

Yuji O. Kamatari

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Biophysics, structural biology, protein science, molecular interaction analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), logical drug discovery, neurodegenerative diseases, antibodies, protein expression

Research subject: Using various structural biology and biophysical techniques such as NMR and SPR, we analyze the structures and interaction of proteins and glycans to elucidate the biological phenomena they are involved in. Furthermore, we aim to control them for drug discovery.

Takatsugu Goto

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Anaerobic bacteria, Bacteroides, drug resistance mechanisms, whole genome analysis

Research subject: We are engaged in research on drug resistance mechanisms of Bacteroides (especially Bacteroides fragilis), an anaerobic bacterium commensal to the intestinal tract and sometimes isolated from intra-abdominal infection colonies. In particular, we aim to elucidate the mechanism of carbapenem resistance in this species using comprehensive methods such as whole genome analysis

Shigeo Takashima

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Lipids, fatty acids, adrenoleukodystrophy, peroxisome disease, inherited metabolic disease

Research subject: Our laboratory studies the functional role of fatty acids in individual development and disease, by investigating a human genetic disease (peroxisome disease) in which fatty acid metabolism is impaired. Fatty acids are one of the important biomolecules, and not only as a material for membranes but also play important physiological roles, such as regulating cellular functions and being used as a source of cellular energy. Our bodies contain more than 100 types of fatty acids in different lengths and shapes. We investigate the significance of the existence of these diverse fatty acids and the mechanisms by which their metabolic changes cause various pathological conditions.

Masahiro Hayashi

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Obligate anaerobic bacteria, phylogenetic classification, infectious disease

Research subject: The major focus of our laboratory is on the bacteriology of the obligate anaerobes that comprise the major commensal flora of humans. In recent years, advances in science and technology have led to a restructuring of the bacterial classification system. Our research focuses on drug resistance genes in especially so-called "pathogenic bacteria" that are harmful to humans. We also provide assistance in the identification of bacterial species by genetic approaches to cases from nearby hospitals and other facilities that have difficulty in determining the species of bacteria.

Yuuki Horii

Division of Cooperative Research Facility

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Research interests: Physiology, hibernation, hypothermia, experimental animal science, developmental engineering

Research subject: We conduct research focusing on body temperature in humans and animals. Some mammals, such as hamsters, hibernate in an environment such as winter, with significantly low body temperature. While humans are unable to maintain vital functions when their body temperature drops, hibernating animals are not damaged by hypothermia during hibernation. Our research goal is to contribute to human and animal medicine by elucidating biological functions during hibernation and developing ways to utilize the findings.

Jun Hirabayashi

Division headResearch Promotion office

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Research interests: Project manager

Yutaka Nibu

Research Promotion office

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Research subject: Dr. Yutaka Nibu’s joined iGCORE on May 2022. His responsibility is to foster research performance in iGCORE. In 1995, Dr. Nibu’s doctoral degree in applied biochemistry was awarded from University of Tsukuba, Japan. In 1997, Dr. Nibu joined the laboratory of Professor Michael Levine at the University of California Berkeley, USA. In 2002, Dr. Nibu became a faculty member as Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, USA. In 2015, Dr. Nibu returned to Japan as a research manager at University of Tsukuba. After 3 years, he moved to Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. He was in charge of research strategy, pre- and post-award, academia-industry collaboration, IP, start-up, and support of foreign researchers.

Yoriko Miyake

Research Promotion office

Fumihiko Shinoda

Research Promotion office

Shinji Itoh

Research Promotion office

Shinji Go

Research Promotion office

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Hiromune Ando

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