研究者・留学生向け英文メールニュース 「Tokyo Tech Bulletin No. 67」を配信

A newly developed manganese (Mn) catalyst facilitates efficient conversion of alcohols into diverse organic compounds without requiring the addition of a base and producing water as the only byproduct, Tokyo Tech researchers find in a new study.

Analyzing the post-translational modification of proteins can help us get a closer look at cellular events. A novel single-molecule detection assay that can do so using electrical measurements has now been developed by researchers at Tokyo Tech. The technique was able to detect the phosphorylation of peptides with 91% specificity and 95% accuracy.

The new cell-free protein crystallization (CFPC) method developed by Tokyo Tech includes direct protein crystallization and is a major headway in the field of structural biology. This technique will enable the analysis of unstable proteins that could not be studied using conventional methods. Analyzing these will increase our knowledge of cellular processes and functions.

Furthering the visualization of intracellular dynamics for therapeutic applications, a Tokyo Tech research team has now demonstrated precise imaging of endogenous proteins in live cells using an antigen-binding fragment (Fab)-based Quenchbody (Q-body). The Q-body probe shows antigen-dependent response and a switchable (on-off) fluorescent signaling, enabling the visualization and sorting of cells expressing p53, a tumor suppressor biomarker protein.

A team of scientists determined the origin and evolution of carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu through sample analysis and computer simulations. The analysis of 17 particles included the third largest sample by the 'Hayabusa2 Initial Analysis Team' consisting of scientists from several universities and research institutes in Japan, including the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Imperfect current propagation in the heart is at the root of most cardiac diseases. Thanks to a novel magnetocardiography technique developed in the MEXT Q-LEAP Flagship project with researchers from Tokyo Tech and the University of Tokyo, we can now image these currents at millimeter-scale resolutions. Based on a diamond quantum sensor that senses the heart's magnetic fields, the proposed system offers high resolution at room temperature, as demonstrated in experiments with rats. The technique could help deepen our understanding of several cardiac arrythmias.