Whereas for major diseases such as cancer, dementia, and aging, we have accumulated knowledge of genome-wide, multi-omics molecular mechanisms, including at the single cell level, the mechanism of glycan-mediated biological processes is not well understood. There remains a significant gap in our knowledge of the glycans responsible for these diseases. To fill this gap, it is important to clarify the relationship between glycans and other omics molecular information, such as commonality, complementarity, and independence, for which an integrated analysis approach is essential. ...and more
This article series provides an introduction to rare sugars. The authors of this series are experts from industrial, academic, and governmental sectors, mainly members of the International Institute of Rare Sugar Research and Education, Kagawa University. Beginning with an explanation of what rare sugars are, we introduce the basic properties of rare sugars. We then provide an easy-to-understand overview of the current status of the applications of rare sugars in a variety of fields. This is the first article of the series; the topics are "What is a rare sugar?" and "History of rare sugars". ...and more
Cellulose is the most abundantly reproduced natural biopolymer on Earth. It has recently been attracting attention as a renewable resource. Cellulose is mostly derived from plants and used as a material for various purposes, including pulp production. However, some of the mechanism of its biosynthesis remains to be solved, which markedly varies with the biological origin of the producing strain. Artificial control of the mechanism would enable us to expand the applicability of cellulose. Accordingly, we have been conducting research into the mechanism of cellulose synthesis using acetic acid bacteria, as well as the application of their products. Some of our efforts are described below. ...and more
Supramolecules based on non-covalent interactions can rearrange in response to changes in the environment and change their function as complexes. We have been developing supramolecular analytical reagents that focus on the dynamic molecular recognition function of these supramolecules. In particular, we have developed molecular recognition systems based on the inclusion ability of cyclodextrins (CDs: a hexamer is called α-CD, a heptamer is called β-CD, and an octamer is called γ-CD). The inclusion ability of CDs is, in turn, based on the structural changes in the CD cavity of molecular recognition probes, such as metal ion recognition, phosphate derivative recognition, and sugar recognition, as well as the creation of supramolecular chirality built on the chirality of CD cavities derived from natural products. We have also succeeded in developing spherical ultrasmall CD nanogels with uniform CD orientation by using cationic amphiphilic compounds as emulsifiers, and have revealed their excellent inclusion capabilities. In this review, the development of these CD-based supramolecular analytical reagents is summarized. ...and more
