TEL. 03-3353-8111
〒162-8666 8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Biochemistry is a scientific field to try to understand life phenomena
in the molecular level. Understanding of life phenomena includes elucidation
of structure-function correlation and its regulation in health and disease.
We are conducting research on structure-function correlation of cell membranes,
especially on fundamental issues regardless that they may be out of fashion,
based on unique ideas and strategies. We mainly use human red blood cells
as the best material for membrane research, because i) the subject in medical
school should be human, and human red blood cells are readily available.
ii) Red blood cells are indispensable for life. iii) Membrane functions
(deformability and membrane stability) can be quantitated. iv) Membrane
abnormalities result in diseases, i.e., hemolytic anemia, or malaria parasite
invasion.
(1)Maintenance and regulation of red cell membrane function (cell morphology,
deformability, and membrane mechanical stability).
(2)Interaction between various red cell membrane proteins (measurement
of a dissociation constant, and association or dissociation rate constants)
(3)Mechanism(s) for modulation of membrane protein functions by posttranslational
modifications such as phosphorylation or glycation.
(4)Mechanism(s) for maintenance and disruption of asymmetric distribution
of phospholipids in lipid bilayer. Identification of flippase and scramblase
and elucidation of mechanism(s) through which their functions are modulated.
(5)Mechanism(s) for dying of human red cells, which lack nuclei. Elucidation
of mechanisms for two “eat me signals”, clustering of band 3 and exposure
of PS to the outer leaflet.
(6)Mechanism(s) for malaria parasite invasion of red cells: trial to prevent
parasite invasion.
(7)Self-organization hypothesis of membrane architecture. Analysis of single-molecule
fluctuation.
(8)Mechanism(s) for degranulation in mast cells. Classification of, and
membrane fusion between distinct classes of granules.
(9)Investigations of the red cell membrane from patients such as hemolytic
anemia (in corroboration with many hospitals).
Fumio Nakamura(professor)
Ichiro Koshino (lecturer)
Shotaro Tanaka (assistant professor)
Nobuto Arashiki (assistant professor)
Yuji Henmi (assistant professor)
Mikiko Ito
Tomohiko Iwakami
Mayumi Enoki
Research Achievements Database
〒162-8666
8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
TEL +81-3-3353-8111