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ABOUTIPR Osaka University

ABOUT

GREETINGS

DirectorNAKAGAWA Atsushi

All living things on the earth are maintained by the interactions and reactions between a great number of molecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins. Proteins, which are expressed according to information encoded within the genome, are the most important molecules for living systems, as they catalyze and direct nearly all of the necessary chemical reactions from which life springs.
In 1958, the Institute for Protein Research (IPR) was founded by the members of Osaka University Faculty of Science and Medical School to work on interdisciplinary studies of proteins in the fields of chemistry, biology, physics and medicine. Since its foundation, the IPR has been working as a Joint Usage/Research Center for protein sciences.
Recently, the life science field has made dramatic developments. We are now on the cusp of developing a new protein science field that is capable of revealing the secrets of higher-order living systems through investigations of the interactions occurring between their networks of biological molecules. These functional studies are facilitated by knowledge of the biological molecules’ three-dimensional atomic structures.
To actualize this future potential, we have to develop and combine a very large array of different techniques. With this IPR research cohort, we are in position to strive towards the development of this new type of protein science – one that represents a future approach to the life sciences based on the eradication of borders between laboratories, scientific fields, facilities and indeed countries, and most importantly, one that is capable of developing both the scientific breakthroughs and the important human resources of the next generation.

Prospects: Life Science Research Leading the Future

  • Visualizing Proteins

    We aim to reveal “Life” in multi-scale level, from sub-nano scale atomic structures of protein molecules to dynamic localization of the molecules in a cell.

  • Understanding Function of Proteins

    We aim to integrate various scientific approaches, including biology, chemistry, physics, and computational science to understand the function of proteins.

  • Creating Novel Proteins

    We aim to design and create novel protein molecules together with developing new technologies/methodologies for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as “Zero hunger”, “Good health and well-being for people”, “Climate action” etc.

HISTORY

The Institute for Protein Research (IPR) of Osaka University was established on April 1, 1958, as a joint research based upon the recommendation of the Science Council of Japan and the concurrence between the Ministry of Education.　Professor Shiro Akabori was appointed as its director. Since its foundation IPR has been growing as shown in the chronological tables, and we are working as a research center for protein sciences in Japan.

  • 1956

    Set up of a new laboratory in Faculty of Science, Osaka University, for organic chemical studies of proteins and amino acids (the predecessor of IPR) supervised by Prof. Shiro Akabori.

    Faculty of Science

    Opening of the IPR

  • 1958

    Establishment of the Institute for Protein Research as a Joint-use Research Organization, composed of three Divisions : Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Protein Metabolism

    • AKABORI Shiro 1stDirector
    • The first IPR building

  • 1961

    Main building (4,130m²）was completed on the former Nakanoshima Campus.

    Former Nakanoshima Campus Main building

  • 1968

    The 10th Anniversary

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  • 1971

    Main building (7,873 m²) of the IPR was completed on Suita Campus.

    • Suita Campus Main Building
    • KAKUDO Masao 5th Director

  • 1972

    The crystal structure of bonito heart ferrocytochrome c was determined for the first time in Japan.

    Suita Campus（1972）

    Atomic model of cytochrome c from bonito heart

  • 1979

    Buildings for the Crystallographic Research Center (1,505 m²) and NMR Research Laboratory (267m²) were completed.

    Buildings for the Crystallographic Research Center(1979)

    NMR Research Laboratory

  • 1983

    The 25th Anniversary

  • 1988

    The Research Center for Protein Engineering was established.

  • 1998

    The Center for Structural Biology was established.

  • 2000

    The Protein Data Bank Japan（PDBj） started its operation.

  • 2002

    The Research Center for Structural and Functional Proteomics was established.

  • 2004

    Transformed into a Research Institute of Japanese National Universities under the National University Corporation Law.

    2007 Retreat

  • 2008

    The 50th Anniversary Building of Collaborative Research Facility (1,149m²) was completed.

  • 2009

    Main building reinforcement for earthquake-resistance was completed.

  • 2010

    Certified as a Joint Usage/Research Center by MEXT.

  • 2012

    The Research Center for State-of-the-Art Functional Protein Analysis was established.

  • 2016

    Certified continuous activities as a Joint Usage/Research Center by MEXT.

  • 2018

    The 60th Anniversary

  • 2020

    Atomic models of Cytochrome c and Taka-amylase A are registered as Chemical heritage authorized by the Chemical Society of Japan

    The next-generation protein structural analysis center was established.

ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZATION

Director

Professor NAKAGAWA Atsushi

Vice Director

Professor FURUKAWA Takahisa
Professor TAKAGI Junichi

Director of the Research Center

Professor KURISU Genji

ORGANIZATION

1st

AKABORI Shiro

Apr.1,1958 – Nov.30,1961

2nd

ISEMURA Toshizo

Dec.1,1961 – Nov.30,1965

3rd

SUZUKI Yuji

Dec.1,1965 - Aug.14,1969

4th

NARITA Kozo

Aug.15,1969 - Aug.14,1971

5th

KAKUDO Masao

Aug.15,1971 - Apr.1,1982

6th

IZUMI Yoshiharu

Apr.2,1982 - Mar.31,1985

7th

SATOH Ryo

Apr.1,1985 - Mar.31,1987

8th

HORIO Takekazu

Apr.1,1987 - Mar.31,1989

9th

KATSUBE Yukiteru

Apr.1,1989 - Mar.31,1993

10th

NAKAGAWA Hachiro

Apr.1,1993 - Mar.31,1995

11th

SAKIYAMA Fumio

Apr.1,1995 - Mar.31,1997

12th

KYOGOKU Yoshimasa

Apr.1,1997 - Mar.31,1999

13th

SHIMONISHI Yasutsugu

Apr.1,1999 - Mar.31,2000

14th

NAGAI Katsuya

Apr.1,2000 - Mar.31,2004

15th

AKUTSU Hideo

Apr.1,2004 - Mar.31,2006

16th

TSUKIHARA Tomitake

Apr.1,2006 - Mar.31,2008

17th

AIMOTO Saburo

Apr.1,2008 - Mar.31,2010

18th

HASE Toshiharu

Apr.1,2010 - Mar.31,2014

19th

NAKAMURA Haruki

Apr.1,2014 - Mar.31,2018

20th

NAKAGAWA Atsushi

Apr.1,2018 -

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Director

Faculty Meeting

Administrative Council

Panel on Joint Usage/Research

Research Division

Division of Protein Chemistry

  • Laboratory of Protein Organic Chemistry
  • Laboratory for Nanobiology
  • Laboratory for Protein Synthesis and Expression
  • Laboratory for Protein Profiling and Functional Proteomics
  • Laboratory for Membrane Protein Chemistry

Division of Protein Structural Biology

  • Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics
  • Laboratory of Protein Crystallography
  • Laboratory of CryoEM Structural Biology
  • Laboratory for Supramolecular Crystallography

Division of Integrated Protein Functions

  • Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology
  • Laboratory for Genome and Chromosome Functions
  • Laboratory for Advanced Brain Functions
  • Laboratory for Organelle Biology

Division of Protein Network Biology

  • Laboratory for Cell Systems
  • Laboratory for Computational Biology
  • Laboratory for Nuclear Dynamics
  • Laboratory for Infection Systems
  • Laboratory for Visiting Scientists

Center

Research Center for Next-Generation Protein Sciences

  • Protein Data Bank Japan
  • Laboratory for Ultra-High Magnetic Field NMR Spectroscopy
  • Laboratory for Synchrotron Radiation Research
  • Laboratory for High Resolution Cryo-EM
  • Laboratory for Biomolecular Analysis
  • Open Space Laboratory for Advanced Protein Science

Division of Donated Fund Research

Division of Matrixome Research and Application

Technology Division

Administration

General Affairs Section

Accounting Section

  • Project Team of Joint Usage / Research Center

Research Support Section

Public Relations Office

Library

IPR Alumni Office

EMERITUS

Name Enrollment period E-mail
ASANO Akira 04/1988 – 03/1995
TAKAGI Toshio 11/1982 – 03/1997
NAGAI Katsuya 12/1995 – 03/2006 knagai at anbas.co.jp READ MORE
AKUTSU Hideo 04/2000 – 03/2007 –
TSUKIHARA Tomikake 04/1995 – 03/2008 –
AIMOTO Saburo 01/1994 – 08/2011 aimoto at protein.osaka-u.ac.jp READ MORE
SEKIGUCHI Kiyotoshi 04/1998 – 03/2016 sekiguch at protein.osaka-u.ac.jp READ MORE
TAJIMA Syouji 04/1996 – 03/2016 –
HASE Toshiharu 04/1992 – 03/2016 –
YOSHIKAWA Kazuaki 04/1994 – 03/2016 –
NAKAMURA Haruki 04/1999 – 03/2018 harukin at protein.osaka-u.ac.jp READ MORE
GOTO Yuji 04/1998 – 03/2020 gtyj8126 at protein.osaka-u.ac.jp READ MORE

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