Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo Department of
Integrated Biosciences

Our bodies are composed of biological macromolecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA, and lipids. All life phenomena emerge as a result of the activities of these molecules. Structural biology aims to understand how biological molecules function based on their three-dimensional structures. In biology, "form" and "function" are inseparable; thus, understanding molecular structure is critically important for understanding the role and function of molecules within living organisms.

There is a well-known saying: "Seeing is believing." To truly understand something, direct observation is often the most effective way. Imagine a key and a keyhole. The shape of the keyhole determines which key can unlock it. To create a key, one must first know the shape of the keyhole. This relationship is very similar to that between a protein (the keyhole) and a drug that binds to it (the key). Developing a drug that inhibits a particular protein’s function greatly benefits from knowledge of the proteins’s structure. Interactions between biological molecules are governed by physical and chemical forces. Therefore, the shape of a molecule determines how it interacts with other molecules and provides insights into the mechanisms by which it functions. For example, structural biology enables us to understand biological phenomena such as how enzymes catalyze reactions, how viruses invade cells, and how antibodies neutralize pathogens.

However, observing the shape of molecules is not easy. They cannot be seen with the naked eye, nor even with optical microscopes. To visualize biological macromolecules, we utilize powerful techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. These methods allow us to visualize molecules at near-atomic resolution, providing invaluable information about their functions and dynamics.

The applications of structural biology are extremely broad, and it has become indispensable across all fields of biology. Structural biology accelerates drug discovery by enabling the rational design of drugs against a wide variety of diseases. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, structural biology made significant contributions to the development of vaccines and antiviral inhibitors. Moreover, it drives advances in biotechnology, by facilitating the engineering of highly efficient enzymes and the development of novel enzymes with unprecedented properties.

In recent years, it has also become possible to predict three-dimensional structures using computational methods. By combining these approaches with traditional experimental techniques, research can now be carried out with remarkable efficiency. Furthermore, with techniques like cryo-electron tomography, it is becoming possible to directly visualize the shapes of organelles and molecules inside cells. This field is evolving rapidly, and breakthroughs once thought impossible are now steadily becoming reality.

The most fascinating aspect of structural biology is the ability to "see the invisible". To be the first in the world to observe the structure of a molecule and to understand how it functions—this is a true moment of discovery, one that is profoundly exciting. It is this pure curiosity to see what cannot be seen, and the drive to explore the unknown, that fuels our passion for continuing this research.We believe that structural biology acts as a molecular lens that unveils the intricate mechanisms of life, holding the potentials to fundamentally transform our understanding of biology and medicine.

Our research field was newly launched in fiscal year 2025. Under the motto "visualizing how molecules work," we aim to investigate biologically and medically important molecules involved in essential life phenomena, and to elucidate their molecular mechanisms using structural biology techniques. Current projects include investigations into receptors involved in immune responses and proteins associated with viral infections. We hope to share with you the excitement of these scientific discoveries.