Principal Investigator_Y.Goshima
Identification and development of biomarker proteins for diseases
Yoshio Goshima
Professor, Molecular Pharmacology & Neurobiology
researchmap
Our Aim
To develop specific biomarkers and drug targets of various kinds against human diseases is one of the most important subjects in medical science. We are focusing on neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Our aim is to search and establish CRMPs and other proteins as useful and sensitive biomarkers or as drug targets for various kinds of refractory diseases.
Background
Cell-to-cell communication is absolutely essential for multicellular organisms. Cell-to-cell communication represents how such cells coordinate their physiological behaviors so as to create a cooperative whole. Occasionally, dysfunction and disease occurs when the components necessary for cell-to-cell communication are absent, out-of-order, or are in short supply. CRMP was originally ideutitied as an mediator of semapharin 3A, a repulsive axon guidance molecule Post-translational phosphorylation of protein including CRMPs is one of the most common protein modifications that occur in animal cells.
Research Overview
Using several disease-model animals, we will show that the phosphorylation of CRMP is causally related to disturbed neuronal functions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Schizophrenia. We will also determine how abnormal phosphorylation events are correlated to many disease states, including neoplastic diseases.
Achievements
We have shown that semaphorin 3A, is a promising target in the treatment of patients with refractory atopic dermatitis. After informed consent was provided by the patients, we obtained various kinds of tissue specimens. In some of the tissue specimens, we observed abnormal phosphorylation states of the CRMP family of proteins.