International Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Discovering Bioactive Self-Assemblies
Project Gist
Exploration of Self-Assembling Compounds That Control Cells
Keywords
self-assembly, chemical biology, small molecules
Joint Research/Academic Institutions Abroad
Fudan University
Background and Purpose
The goal of this project is to discover and understand new classes of bioactive compounds that self-assemble to exert bioactivity. By self-assembling, these compounds are expected to exhibit bioactivity that cannot be achieved by simple small molecules. This project may open up a new field of bioactive substances that are not bound by the conventional framework of classical drugs.
Project Achievements
The Kyoto University Compound Library and the National Compound Library of China were profiled to create the world’s largest library of 1,853 self-assembling compounds. Screening of the library and subsequent chemical optimization allowed us to discover a range of self-assembling bioactive compounds. In addition to the research on self-assembling compounds, the project led to collaborative chemical biology efforts that resulted in co-authored papers.
Future Prospects
This project resulted in the discovery of a range of self-assembling compounds with unique bioactivity. We will continue to analyze the underlying molecular mechanisms of these compounds.
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Principal Investigator
UESUGI Motonari
Institute for Chemical Research
UESUGI Motonari is a Professor of The Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences and Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University. After completing postdoctoral training in Harvard Chemistry Department, Dr. Uesugi started his independent career in Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, where he has established an interdisciplinary laboratory in the area of chemical biology. He was tenured in Baylor in 2005, and moved to Kyoto University as a full professor in 2005.
https://www.scl.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~uesugi/ja/index.php
