The 805th MIB Seminar
(Joint Usage/Research Center for the Multi-stratified Host Defense System)
[Seminar in English]
Title
Venom and Toxin Research: Biochemist’s Bliss and Pharmacologist’s Paradise
Speaker
Prof. R. Manjunatha Kini (Ph.D.)
Department of Biological Sciences,
Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Date
Nov. 5 (Tue), 2019
17：00〜18：30
Venue
Seminar Room, Main Building 1F, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Hospital Campus
No.29 on the following linked map.
（http://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/f/35768/2019hospital-en_2.pdf）
Abstract
Venoms form the armory of several animals in prey capture and/or predator deterrence. They have evolved as cocktails of several toxins and induce various pharmacological effects in key systems. These toxins are thought as villains as they cause death and debilitation. In reality, they have contributed more to improving our lives than cause death. Toxins have played crucial roles in the discovery and development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents for human diseases. They have also contributed as important research tools and helped us to understand molecular mechanisms of normal physiological processes such as neurotransmission, blood coagulation and platelet aggregation. Our lab in NUS has been studying structure-function relationships and mechanism of actions of novel toxins from various sources. Our research has contributed to both basic and applied sciences. Based on the functional sites of the toxins, we have developed several therapeutic agents for various human diseases. This talk will provide an overview of toxin research and the distinct dimension of both basic and applied research in the field.
References
- Sridharan S, Kini RM.
Decoding the molecular switches of natriuretic peptides which differentiate its vascular and renal functions.
Biochem J. 475(2):399-413 (2018). - Iyer JK, Koh CY, Kazimirova M, Roller L, Jobichen C, Swaminathan K, Mizuguchi J, Iwanaga S, Nuttall PA, Chan MY and Kini RM.
Avathrin: a novel thrombin inhibitor derived from a multicopy precursor in the salivary glands of the ixodid tick, Amblyomma variegatum.
FASEB J. 31(17): 2981-2995 (2017). - Sridharan S, Kini RM.
Tail wags the dog: activity of krait natriuretic peptide is determined by its C-terminal tail in a natriuretic peptide receptor-independent manner.
Biochem J. 469(2):255-66 (2015). - Koh CY, Kazimirova M, Trimnell A, Takac P, Labuda M, Nuttall PA and Kini, RM.
Variegin, a novel fast and tight binding thrombin inhibitor from the tropical bont tick.
J Biol Chem. 282(40): 29101-13 (2007).
Contact
Division of Genomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation
Hiroki Shibata
TEL: 092 (642) 6168
Email: hshibata@gen.kyushu-u.ac.jp