Makoto Kurihara(M2) , Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, won a Best Poster Award at the 2th colloquium held by the East Japan Branch

On March 4, Mr. Makoto Kurihara in the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, M2, won a Best Poster Award at the 2th colloquium held by the East Japan Branch, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan.

<About awarded research>
My study subject is “Improvement of Novel Interaction Detection Assay by Modified Enzymes”. We had reported a novel a novel bioluminescent protein-protein interaction (PPI) assay, named as FlimPIA (firefly luminescent intermediate-based protein interaction assay), which works efficiently in vitro as well as in cells. The assay is based on the functional complementation of two mutant firefly luciferases, and generates strong signal especially in vitro. With this FlimPIA, PPIs are detected within seconds with high signal/background ratio. However, it had a problem of considerable background signal, due to one of mutant firefly luciferases. In order to solve this problem, I performed two experiments. First, I tried to introduce mutations in the hinge region of the mutant. Second, after analysis of enzymatic parameters, I could optimize assay the condition by adding CoA and reducing ATP concentration. As a result, signal background ratio of FlimPIA was significantly improved from 2.5-fold to 40-fold.

<Comments>

I hope that the FlimPIA-based biosensors will be utilized in detecting various proteins and chemicals, and applied as a novel diagnostic tool.I am deeply honored with this award. I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Professor Ueda, for his support and guidance in this research. In addition I wish to thank my collaborators who have been encouraging me.