構造プロテオミクスと創薬

抄録

The goal of structural proteomics is to reveal the genome-wide relationships between protein structure and function. To pursue this grand goal, we have been entrusted with the National Project on Protein Structural and Functional Analyses (Protein 3000 Project) in collaboration with many Japanese scientists.
We theoretically and computationally select target proteins with important biological functions and disease-related functions, and then examine their expression and solubility by our unique cell-free method. Hundreds of the selected proteins have been prepared on a large-scale. Using NMR spectroscopy or X-ray crystallography, our group determined more than 200 structures of proteins, mainly derived from mouse and human, in the 2003 fiscal year. In addition to determining the three-dimensional structures of proteins, we also analyze various molecular functions, including protein-DNA or protein-protein interactions and protein-ligand affinity. We are developing and applying the technologies of in silico ligand screening to study the functions of target proteins. These functional results provide important clues for selecting the next target proteins to study.
To transfer our results to industrial R & D, we have begun a new drug discovery collaborative program, the Partnership Program. Under the basic collaborative research agreement, we instantly disclose the protein-research progress-reports to partner companies, which then select target proteins for subsequent individual collaborations. Under the individual collaboration research agreement, we provide protein samples and information for further research to the partner companies. This partnership will provide the basis for the next-generation of theoretical drug discovery in Japan.