Human Glycan Precise Map
We will comprehensively clarify the exact structures of glycans present in the human body by using the latest glycan structure analysis technology through mass spectrometry.
Glycans exist in forms bound to proteins and lipids.
The Human Glycan Precise Map will provide detailed information about the specific proteins with corresponding glycan sites and the precise structure of attached glycans.
This map will enable us to comprehend the alterations in glycans that occur during human illnesses and how they differ from the healthy state.
Catalog of Human Glycans Related to Diseases
Which glycan changes when and how?
We will investigate the glycans in the blood of various people to elucidate the relationship between physical changes in the body and diseases.
(Glycan analysis image) Each dot shows a different glycan structure.
Glycan structure, quantity can change though disease
In this project, we will examine as many structures of glycans bound to proteins as possible using blood samples from dementia patients, and clarify which glycans are altered in the disease. Furthermore, we will extend this to other diseases and clarify the relationship between diseases and glycans.
Atlas of glycan biosynthesis
How are glycans with various structures produced?
We will elucidate the mechanism by which glycans are synthesized in cells.
Schematic diagram of how glycans are made in a cell
How does the structural change of glycans occur in disease? If we can understand this, it may be possible to cure diseases by suppressing changes in these glycans.
Glycans are made by the action of enzymes in cells. Many of the enzymes that make glycans (called glycosyltransferases) are present in a place called the Golgi apparatus inside the cell. However, we do not understand much about the details such as the detailed location in the Golgi apparatus and the activity of each enzyme.
In this project, we will clarify the intracellular location and activity details of all human glycosyltransferases. By doing so, we will elucidate the mechanism by which glycans are synthesized, leading to the development of technology to modify specific glycans.
Construction of TOHSA, Glycan Knowledge Base
We will construct a knowledge base called “TOHSA” that comprehensively lists information of human glycans. This will make glycan information available to people all over the world.
A knowledge base is a system that accumulates and fuses data and knowledge for easy utilization.
“TOHSA” comprehensively lists the structure of glycans in the human body, the relationship between disease and glycans, and the mechanism by which glycans are produced in cells. This valuable information will be made accessible to the public for the benefit of people all over the world.
Information of glycans is widely applied in the research and medical fields, and will be utilized for the true understanding of the mechanism of life and the development of innovative treatment and prevention methods.
