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RIKEN SPring-8 Center Life Science Research Infrastructure Group

Group Director: Nobutaka Shimizu (D.Sc.)

Research Summary

Masaki  Yamamoto(Ph.D.)

We pioneer and sophisticate advanced techniques in macromolecular crystallography (MX), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) single-particle analysis, utilizing SPring-8, SACLA, and cryo-EM facilities to propel structural life science and drug discovery research. In parallel, we optimize the methods and environments for producing sample molecules and evaluating their properties and functions. Additionally, we collaborate with experts both within and outside RIKEN to promote integrative structural biology, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of biomolecular interaction mechanisms across broad spatiotemporal scales.

Main Research Fields

  • Biology

Related Research Fields

  • Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Pharmacy
  • Structural biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Drug development chemistry

Keywords

  • Structural life Science
  • Structural Biology
  • Integrative Structural Biology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Structural Dynamics

Selected Publications

  • 1. Ishimaru, H., Nishimura, M., Tjan, L. H., Sutandhio, S., Marini, M. I., Effendi, G. B., Shigematsu, H., Kato, K., Hasegawa, N., Aoki, K., Kurahashi, Y., Furukawa, K., Shinohara, M., Nakamura, T., Arii, J., Nagano, T., Nakamura, S., Sano, S., Iwata, S., Okamura, S., and Mori, Y.:
    "Identification and Analysis of Monoclonal Antibodies with Neutralizing Activity against Diverse SARS-CoV-2 Variants."
    Journal of Virology 97(6), e0028623 (2023).
  • 2. Abe, K., Ozako, M., Inukai, M., Matsuyuki, Y., Kitayama, S., Kanai, C., Nagai, C., Gopalasingam, C. C., Gerle, C., Shigematsu, H., Umekubo, N., Yokoshima, S., and Yoshimori, A.:
    "Deep learning driven de novo drug design based on gastric proton pump structures"
    Communications Biology 6, 956 (2023).
  • 3. Sakaniwa, K., Fujimura, A., Shibata, T., Shigematsu, H., Ekimoto, T., Yamamoto, M., Ikeguchi, M., Miyake, K., Ohto, U., and Shimizu, T.:
    "TLR3 forms a laterally aligned multimeric complex along double-stranded RNA for efficient signal transduction"
    Nature Communications 14, 164 (2023).
  • 4. Nishida, Y., Yanagisawa, S., Morita, R., Shigematsu, H., Shinzawa-Itoh, K., Yuki, H., Ogasawara, S., Shimuta, K., Iwamoto, T., Nakabayashi, C., Matsumura, W., Kato, H., Gopalasingam, C., Nagao, T., Qaqorh, T., Takahashi, Y., Yamazaki, S., Kamiya, K., Harada,R., Mizuno, N., Takahashi, H., Akeda, Y., Ohnishi, M., Ishii, Y., Kumasaka, T., Murata, T., Muramoto, K., Tosha, T., Shiro, Y., Honma, T., Shigeta, Y., Kubo, M., Takashima, S., and Shintani, Y.:
    "Identifying antibiotics based on structural differences in the conserved allostery from mitochondrial heme-copper oxidases"
    Nature Communications 13, 7591 (2022).
  • 5. Gerle, C., Kishikawa, J.I., Yamaguchi, T., Nakanishi, A., Çoruh, O., Makino, F., Miyata, T., Kawamoto, A., Yokoyama, K., Namba, K., and Kurisu, G.:
    "Structures of multisubunit membrane complexes with the CRYO ARM 200"
    Microscopy 71(5), 249-261 (2022).
  • 6. Yoshimi, K., Takeshita, K., Kodera, N., Shibumura, S., Yamauchi, Y., Omatsu, M., Umeda, K., Kunihiro, Y., Yamamoto, M., and Mashimo, T.:
    "Dynamic mechanisms of CRISPR interference by Escherichia coli CRISPR-Cas3"
    Nature Communications 13(1), 4917 (2022).
  • 7. Gopalasingam, C.C., and Hasnain, S.S.:
    "Frontiers in metalloprotein crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy"
    Current Opinion in Structural Biology 75, 102420 (2022).
  • 8. Tanaka, S., Morita, M., Yamagishi, T., Madapally, H.V., Hayashida, K., Khandelia, H., Gerle, C., Shigematsu, H., Oshima, A., and Abe, K.:
    "Structural Basis for Binding of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers to the Gastric Proton Pump"
    Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 65(11), 7843-7853 (2022).
  • 9. Baba, S., Matsuura, H., Kawamura, T., Sakai, N., Nakamura, Y., Kawano, Y., Mizuno, N., Kumasaka, T., Yamamoto, M., and Hirata, K.:
    "Guidelines for de novo phasing using multiple small-wedge data collection"
    Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 28, 1284-1295 (2021).
  • 10. Yamamoto, M., Hirata, K., Yamashita, K., Hasegawa, K., Ueno, G., Ago, H., and Kumasaka, T.:
    "Protein microcrystallography using synchrotron radiation"
    IUCrJ 4(5), 529-539 (2017).

Related Links

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Nobutaka Shimizu
Group Director

Core members

Kohei Takeshita
Research Scientist
Christoph Gerle
Research Scientist
Chai Gopalasingam
Postdoctoral Researcher

Careers

Position Deadline
Seeking a Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher (H24-002) Open until filled

Contact Information

Structural Biology Facility,
1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho,
Sayo-gun, Hyogo,
679-5148 Japan
Tel: +81-(0)791-58-2839
Email: nobutaka.shimizu.uj [at] riken.jp

Organization

SR Life Science Instrumentation Team
Nobutaka Shimizu (D.Sc.)

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