RESEARCH
Glyco-Systems biology Division
Purpose / Contents

Deciphering glycan code from glycan big data
The purpose of the Systems Biology Division in the Integrated Glyco-Big Data Center (iGDATA) is to understand glycan functions and complexity by analyzing glycan-related big data using systems biology approaches. This will lead to the prediction of key biomarkers and drug targets. By collaborating with other divisions focusing on studies using model organisms and human samples, we will predict glycan structures associated with various diseases. To achieve this, we will develop algorithms, tools, and software targeting mass-spec-based glycomics and glycoproteomics data. In addition, we aim to develop a new interface that links genome science and glycoscience, which is an innovative platform for developing new strategies against various diseases.
Examples

Comprehensive understanding of changes in cellular glycans using mass-spectrometry
We have developed a new comprehensive method for the glycomic analysis of total cellular glycans using mass-spec, which enables us to detect glycan changes in various samples. Recently, we elucidated the changes in glycan structure in cells caused by the plant compound "swainsonine“, This compound is known to evoke toxic symptoms in domestic animals.
(Morikawa et al., BBA - General Subjects, 2022, 1866, 130168)
Members List
Yusuke Matsui
Division headDivision of Glyco-Systems biology
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Hiroyuki Kaji
Division of Glyco-Systems biology
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Bingyuan ZHANG
Division of Glyco-Systems biology
- 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.
Research Division
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