Unit Leader
Mikako Shirouzu
Ph.D.
Drug Discovery Structural Biology Platform Unit
[Affiliation has changed to RIKEN Center for Integrated Medical Sciences (IMS) as of April 2025]
Location Yokohama
E-mailmikako.shirouzu@riken.jp
The RIKEN Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology (DMP) aims to create innovative candidate drugs and enabling technologies for drug discovery and medical treatment. As part of this program, our unit is conducting protein and antibody production, biophysical evaluation of candidate compounds and antibodies, and structural analysis of their complexes. Through detailed molecular characterization using physical chemistry and structural biology approaches, we contribute to the rational optimization of antibody therapeutics and small-molecule drug candidates. Our expertise in protein science and structural biology provides essential support for drug discovery and development promoted by DMP.
Project
- Production and engineering of antibodies
- Biophysical evaluation of candidate compounds and antibodies
- Complex structural analysis for rational drug development
Selected Publications
Harada M, Matsumoto T, Yamamoto M, et al.
Monoclonal antibodies against human TMPRSS2 prevent infection by any SARS-CoV-2 variant.
iScience
28(9), 113424 (2025)
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113424
Hou J, Uejima T, Tanaka M, et al.
EVA1-antibody drug conjugate is a new therapeutic strategy for eliminating glioblastoma-initiating cells.
Neuro-Oncology
27(3), 682-694 (2025)
doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noae226
Suzuki M, Uchibori K, Oh-Hara T, et al.
A macrocyclic kinase inhibitor overcomes triple resistant mutations in EGFR-positive lung cancer.
Npj Precision Oncology
8(1), 46 (2024)
doi: 10.1038/s41698-024-00542-9
Takeshita M, Fukuyama H, Kamada K, et al.
Potent neutralizing broad-spectrum antibody against SARS-CoV-2 generated from dual-antigen-specific B cells from convalescents.
iScience
26(6), 106955 (2023)
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106955
Takase S, Hiroyama T, Shirai F, et al.
A specific G9a inhibitor unveils BGLT3 lncRNA as a universal mediator of chemically induced fetal globin gene expression.
Nature Communications
14(1), 23 (2023)
doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-35404-0
Takemori T, Sugimoto-Ishige A, Nishitsuji H, et al.
Establishment of a Monoclonal Antibody against Human NTCP That Blocks Hepatitis B Virus Infection.
Journal of Virology
96(5), e0168621 (2022)
doi: 10.1128/JVI.01686-21
Kobayashi H, Hatakeyama H, Nishimura H, et al.
Chemical reversal of abnormalities in cells carrying mitochondrial DNA mutations.
Nature Chemical Biology
17(3), 335-343 (2021)
doi: 10.1038/s41589-020-00676-4
Mizuta H, Okada K, Araki M, et al.
Gilteritinib overcomes lorlatinib resistance in ALK-rearranged cancer.
Nature Communications
12(1), 1261 (2021)
doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21396-w
Zyryanova AF, Kashiwagi K, Rato C, et al.
ISRIB Blunts the Integrated Stress Response by Allosterically Antagonising the Inhibitory Effect of Phosphorylated eIF2 on eIF2B.
Molecular Cell
81(1), 88-103 (2021)
doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.10.031
Yasukawa M, Ando Y, Yamashita T, et al.
CDK1 dependent phosphorylation of hTERT contributes to cancer progression.
Nature Communications
11(1), 1557 (2020)
doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15289-7
