Research in Yokomizo lab

Introduction

Our research of the Department of Biochemistry focuses on bioactive lipids and their receptors on cell membrane. Mice deficient in the leukotriene B4 receptor BLT1, which is known to be a potent proinflammatory agent, show attenuated responses in both inflammatory and Th1/Th2-type immune responses. We intend to analyze various immune and inflammatory disease models related to these receptors. We will also search for ligands for novel GPCRs, and conduct research on mice deficient in highly unsaturated fatty acids and fatty acid transporters. We have also started research on lipidomics analysis using mass spectrometry and lipid distribution in organs using imaging mass microscopy. The First Department of Biochemistry is always looking for graduate students and collaborators to work with us. We also actively accept undergraduate students who are interested in our research. Interested students should feel free to contact us.

Research Goals

The Department of Biochemistry conducts a wide range of research with the following keywords: G-protein-coupled receptors, lipid mediators, highly unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid desaturating enzymes, and fatty acid transporters. We conduct accurate and highly reproducible research using advanced receptor analysis techniques and lipidomics analysis using mass spectrometry. Combining phenotypic analysis of genetically engineered mouse models of receptors and enzymes with accurate biochemical analysis techniques, we conduct world-class research and aim to lay the foundation for new drug discovery through active collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.

Main research themes

1. Receptor biochemistry, analysis of intracellular signal transduction, search for novel ligands for orphan receptors 

2. Creation of mice deficient in genes for bioactive lipid receptors and producing enzymes, and analysis of phenotypes in disease models (e.g., immune, inflammatory, and carcinogenesis models), and more recently, functional analysis of bioactive lipids in T cells and dendritic cells: in particular, we focused on leukotriene B4 receptors (BLT1, BLT2) in the last few years .

3. Generation and phenotypic analysis of highly unsaturated fatty acid-deficient mice: We have observed a variety of phenotypes and have recently focused our research efforts on these mice.

4. Phenotypic analysis of fatty acid transporter protein gene-deficient mice

5. Analysis of the distribution of lipid molecular species in organs using imaging mass microscopy (Imaging MS)

Educational Policy

Each graduate student will focus at least one theme independently. We believe that all data for a paper should basically be obtained by the first author himself/herself. For this reason, cooperation among staff and others in the laboratory is indispensable. In other words, you will carry out all the experiments by yourself under the guidance of faculty members. The goal is to become the first author of a full paper, not a short paper. By going through this process, we believe we can foster researchers who can plan, design, and prepare experiments, interpret the results, present at conferences, and submit papers upon graduation from graduate school.