Chemical Bank "NPDepo" and Database "NPEdia"
Chemical Bank Contact: Hiroyuki Hirano E-mail: npdepo
We collect and store low molecular weight compounds, mainly metabolites of microorganisms (NPDepo), as well as natural compounds and synthetic derivatives of natural products. Analytical data such as UV and MS spectra of the compounds are also stored and can be searched. In addition, a library of those compounds in solution is created and used for chemical arrays and various biological activity screening. Furthermore, we are building a database of natural compounds (NPEdia) for external use with the aim of making the compound bank widely available to educational and research institutions in Japan.
iHOPE Screening
iHOPE Contact: Harumi Aono, Yushi Futamura E-mail: tech_CRAST
Phenotypic screening―assays that examine the effects of compounds on cells, tissues, or whole organisms―has been reconsidered and reintroduced as a complementary strategy to a target-based approach in discovering bioactive small molecules (bioprobes) and drugs. A primary screening is merely the starting point, and one must challenge how to exploit unique bioprobes from a huge natural product resource in a straightforward and rapid way. To this end, we have constructed iHOPE, a phenotypic screening system based on dead/alive of various organisms and are leveraging it.
Chemical array technology and screening, preparation of Chemical beads
Chemical Array Contact: Kaori Honda E-mail: tech_CRASTCollaborative Scientist: Makoto Kawatani
We have developed a unique technique for immobilizing variety of chemicals in a functional group independent manner with small amount. Our “chemical array” manufactured by this technique is one of the approaches of high-throughput ligand screening. Physical interaction between protein of interest and chemicals on array can be detected easily by incubating protein solution with chemical array followed by antibody for tag on protein. Also, “chemical beads” prepared by this technique can be provided to identify the target molecules for chemical of interest.
Target identification of bioactive compounds by proteomics
Proteome Contact: Emiko Sanada E-mail: tech_CRASTCollaborative Scientist: Makoto Muroi
Using proteomics techniques, target of bioactive compound is estimated from the changes in the expression levels and modifications of intracellular proteins in response to its action or changes in thermal stability of target proteins binding to the compound.
Isolation of secondary metabolites from microbial culture broths
Natural Product Contact: Akiko Okano, Nobumoto WatanabeE-mail: tech_CRAST
Microorganisms, such as actinomycetes and fungi, have produced wide variety of secondary metabolites in structure and biological activity. Such metabolites have been used as drugs, agrochemicals, and their lead compounds. In a chemical biology study, they are used as a bioprobe, which is a chemical tool to investigate biological functions and an important key. Therefore, we have been preparing a microbial broth library from microbial strains by isolating actinomycetes and fungi from soils collected in various region of Japan. The library is used as a unique screening source for interesting biological activity tests. Also, physicochemical information including UV and mass spectral data obtained by LC/MS analysis is used for searching structurally novel metabolites. Plants including medicinal plants and vegetables, which also contain various biologically interesting compounds, have been used as a source to prepare a plant extract library.
