Professor

Masamichi Ikeguchi

Profile

Specialized field

Biomolecular science, structural biochemistry, biophysics

Research theme

Elucidation of protein folding mechanisms

Subjects in charge

Introduction to Physics, Enzyme Chemistry, Quantum Chemistry, Structural Biology, Structural Information Biology, Protein Engineering, Biotechnology, General Overview of Science and Engineering, Topics in Advanced Science and Engineering, Case Studies I and II, Seminars I and II

Specialized field

Protein design, structural information biology

Research theme

It is known that the three-dimensional structure of a protein is determined by its amino acid sequence. Therefore, it should be possible to predict the three-dimensional structure from the amino acid sequence and to design artificial proteins, but the technology has not yet been established. We are investigating the reaction by which the three-dimensional structure of a protein is formed (folding) using physicochemical methods such as the stopped-flow method and NMR, and by exploring how the folding reaction changes when the amino acid sequence of a protein is changed by genetic recombination technology, we aim to learn the principles of protein three-dimensional structure construction and to develop technology to predict the three-dimensional structure from the amino acid sequence and to design artificial proteins.

Subjects in charge Introduction to Physics, Quantum Chemistry, Structural Biology, Protein Engineering
Main career, work history, and academic background

1988 Completed doctoral course at Hokkaido University Graduate School, Doctor of Science
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1987 Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
1989 Lecturer at Soka University
1995: Assistant Lecturer at Soka University
2000 Visiting Professor, Universitaet Bayreuth (Germany)
2002 Professor at Soka University

Affiliated academic societies and organizations Japanese Biochemical Society
Biophysical Society of Japan
Molecular Biology Society of Japan
Protein Science Society of Japan
Japan Society for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Society of Polymer Science
The Protein Society (USA)
Main Papers and Publications

"A physicochemical and mutational analysis of intersubunit interactions of Escherichia coli ferritin A"
Ohtomo, H., Ohtomo, M., Daisuke, S., Kurobe, A., Sunato, A., Matsumura, Y., Kihara, H., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
Biochemistry (2015) 54, 6243-6251
"The origin of β-strand bending in globular proteins"
Fujiwara, K., Ebisawa, S., Watanabe, Y., Fujiwara, H. & Ikeguchi, M.
BMC Struct Biol. (2015) 15, 21
"Effect of non-native helix destabilization on the folding of equine β-lactoglobulin"
Okabe, T., Miyajima, T., Nakagawa, K., Tsukamoto, S., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
J. Biochem. (2014) 156, 291-297
"Local sequence of protein β-strands influences twist and bend angles"
Fujiwara, K., Ebisawa, S., Watanabe, Y., Toda, H. & Ikeguchi, M.
Proteins: Struct. Funct. Bioinfo. (2014) 82, 1484-1493
"α-Helix formation rate of oligopeptides at subzero temperatures"
Qin, Z. J., Shimizu, A., Li, J., Ikeguchi, M., Shinjo, M. & Kihara, H.
Biophysics (2014) 10, 9-13
"Relationship between chain collapse and secondary structure formation in a partially folded protein"
Nakagawa, K., Yamada, Y., Matsumura, Y., Tsukamoto, S., Yamamoto-Ohtomo, M., Ohtomo, H., Okabe, T., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
Biopolymers (2014) 101, 651-658
"Delineation of solution burst-phase protein folding events by encapsulating the proteins in silica gels"
Okabe, T., Tsukamoto, S., Fujiwara, K., Shibayama N. & Ikeguchi, M.
Biochemistry (2014) 53, 3858-3866
"Transient Non-Native Helix Formation during the Folding of β-Lactoglobulin"
Ikeguchi, M.
Biomolecules (2014) 4, 202-216
"Dependence of alpha-helical and beta-sheet amino acid propensities on the overall protein fold type"
Fujiwara, K., Toda, H. & Ikeguchi, M.
BMC Struct. Biol. (2012) 12, 18
"Importance of polypeptide chain length for the correct local folding of a β-sheet protein"
Yamamoto, M., Nakagawa, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
Biophys. Chem. (2012) 168-169, 40-47
"Important role of methionine 145 in dimerization of bovine β-lactoglobulin"
Ohtomo, H., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
J. Biochem. (2012) 151, 329-334
"A Native Disulfide Stabilizes Non-Native Helical Structures in Partially Folded States of Equine β-Lactoglobulin"
Yamamoto, M., Nakagawa, K., Fujiwara, K., Shimizu, A., Ikeguchi, M. & Ikeguchi, M.
Biochemistry (2011) 50, 10590-10597
"Structure and stability of Gyuba, a β-lactoglobulin chimera"
Ohtomo, H., Konuma, T., Utsunomiya, H., Tsuge, H. & Ikeguchi, M.
Protein Sci. (2011) 20, 1867-1875
"Fatty acids bound to recombinant tear lipocalin and their role in structural stabilization"
Tsukamoto, S., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M
J. Biochem. (2009) 146, 343-350
"Non-native alpha-helix formation is not necessary for folding of lipocalin: comparison of burst-phase folding between tear lipocalin and beta-lactoglobulin"
Tsukamoto S, Yamashita T, Yamada Y, Fujiwara K, Maki K, Kuwajima K, Matsumura Y, Kihara H, Tsuge H, Ikeguchi M.
Proteins. (2009) 76, 226-236
"OLIGAMI: OLIGomer Architecture and Molecular Interface"
Fujiwara K & Ikeguchi M.
Open Bioinfo. J. (2008) 2, 50-53
"Helix-Rich Transient and Equilibrium Intermediates of Equine β−Lactoglobulin in Alkaline Buffer"
Matsumura Y, Li J, Ikeguchi M & Kihara H
Biophys. Chem. (2008) 134, 84-92
"Chloride-ion Concentration Dependence of Molecular Dimension in the Acid-Denatured State of Equine β−Lactoglobulin"
Yamada Y, Yajima T, Tsukamoto S, Nakagawa K, Fujiwara K, Kihara H & Ikeguchi M
J. Appl. Crystallogr. (2007) 40, s213-s216
"An Alpha-Helical Burst in the src SH3 Folding Pathway"
Li J, Shinjo M, Matsumura Y, Morita M, Baker D, Ikeguchi M & Kihara H
Biochemistry (2007) 46, 5072-5082
"Interactions responsible for secondary structure formation during folding of equine β-lactoglobulin"
Nakagawa K, Yamada Y, Fujiwara K & Ikeguchi M
J. Mol. Biol. (2007) 367, 1205-1214
"Proline Scanning Mutagenesis Reveals Non-Native Fold in the Molten Globule State of Equine β-Lactoglobulin"
Nakagawa, K., Tokushima, A., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
Biochemistry (2006) 45, 15468 - 15473
"Structural and Thermodynamic Consequences of Removal of a Conserved Disulfide Bond from Equine beta-Lactoglobulin"
Yamada, Y., Nakagawa, K., Yajima, T., Saito, K., Tokushima, A., Fujiwara, K. & Ikeguchi, M.
Proteins: Struct Funct Bioinfo (2006) 63, 595-602
"Helical and Expanded Conformation of Equine beta-Lactoglobulin in the Cold-denatured State"
Yamada Y., Yajima T., Fujiwara K., Arai M., Ito K., Shimizu A., Kihara H., Kuwajima K., Amemiya Y. & Ikeguchi M.
J Mol Biol (2005) 350, 338-348

Specialized field

Biomolecular science, structural biochemistry, biophysics

Research theme

Elucidation of protein folding mechanisms