Research

Secondary metabolites produced by organisms, commonly known as natural products, often contain compounds exhibiting intriguing biological activities applicable to functional molecules such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides. However, the question of “why do they exhibit biological activity?” remains poorly understood. In our laboratory, we promote bioorganic chemistry research aimed at elucidating the functions of bioactive natural products, particularly those derived from marine organisms, utilizing knowledge and techniques of organic chemistry and biochemistry.

Bioorganic Chemistry on Biologically Active Cyclic Peptides

Cyclic peptides have garnered attention as novel lead compounds in recent pharmaceutical development due to their improved physical properties such as metabolic stability and membrane permeability compared to linear peptides. Various biologically active cyclic peptides with structural diversity have been discovered from natural sources, but the reasons behind the necessity of cyclic peptide scaffolds for their biological activity remain poorly understood. We are tackling the correlation between cyclic structures and biological activity, as well as elucidating the mechanisms of action, based on total synthesis of natural cyclic peptides.

Bioorganic Chemistry on Natural Products Involved in Protein-Protein Interactions.

Protein-protein interactions play crucial roles in various signal transduction pathways within the body and are gaining attention as novel drug targets. Compounds that induce or inhibit these interactions are anticipated as promising new lead compounds, but the exploration of compounds interacting with the vast surface area of proteins and the mechanistic analysis thereof is challenging. Therefore, we are considering the use of protein-protein interaction modulators discovered from natural sources as a starting point for total synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies, aiming to elucidate their mechanisms of action and establish analysis methods.

Isolation, Structure Determination and Total Synthesis of Biologically Active Natural Products

We investigate exploration for novel natural products derived from marine organisms, with a focus on biological activity as a guiding principle. Furthermore, for the natural products obtained, we are considering total synthesis for conducting research in bioorganic chemistry.