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Introduction

We are engaged in research using precise synthesis based on organic chemistry and functional analysis based on biology. Specifically, my work involves the following three research themes. The first is the development of new reactions to synthesize useful carbohydrates in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner. The second involves the creation of highly functional materials like lead compounds for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The last is chemical biology research, which aims to reveal previously unexplained biological phenomena and functions of carbohydrates using synthesized useful chemical probes.

Achievements

■Development of the pharmaceutical leads for the pulmonary non-tuberculous Mycobacterium using the selective glycosylation method developed - Hopes for developing new antimicrobial agents that will be effective against drug-resistant bacteria -
・Abstract： A novel chemical modification method for the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin (AZM) was developed, and by utilising this method, a new lead compound against pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease was successfully generated.
-Publication： Creation of a macrolide antibiotic against non-tuberculous Mycobacterium using late-stage boron-mediated aglycon delivery, Yuka Isozaki, Takumi Makikawa, Kosuke Kimura, Daiki Nishihara, Maho Fujino, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Chigusa Hayashi, Yoshimasa Ishizaki, Masayuki Igarashi, Takeshi Yokoyama, Kazunobu Toshima and Daisuke Takahashi, Science Advances, 2025, 11, eadt2352.
■Development of a novel glycoside that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection - Hopes for the development of therapeutic agents to reduce the severity of COVID-
・Abstract: We chemically synthesized a sulfated tetrasaccharide having the basic structure of fucoidan, which is found in the slimy component of seaweeds, and evaluated its inhibitory activity against heparanase, an enzyme involved in the severity of COVID-19, and its activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a result, we found that this fucoidan analog has both heparanase inhibitory activity and SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibitory activity, and is promising as a lead compound for therapeutic agents to reduce the severity of COVID-19.
- Publication: Synthesis of Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan Analogue and Its Inhibitory Activities against Heparanase and SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Aoi Sugimoto, Tatsuki Koike, Yuya Kuboki, Sumika Komaba, Shuhei Kosono, Maniyamma Aswathy, Itsuki Anzai, Tokiko Watanabe, Kazunobu Toshima and Daisuke Takahashi, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025, 64, e202411760.
■Development of a New Method for Precise Synthesis of Carbohydrate β-Arabinofuranosides - Facilitates Glycosylation and Promises for Development of Anti-allergic Agents
・Abstract: Focusing on β-arabinofuranoside, one of the five-membered ring saccharides in the “sugar chain”, a molecule consisting of a chain of monosaccharides, we have successfully developed a new organic chemical method for efficient glycosylation with complete stereoselectivity and high regioselectivity by using an aromatic boronic acid. This method is expected to lead to the development of new anti-allergic agents.
- Publicaiton: Regioselective and Stereospecific β-Arabinofuranosylation by Boron-Mediated Aglycon Delivery Kazuki Inaba, Yuna Naito, Mina Tachibana, Kazunobu Toshima and Daisuke Takahashi, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2023, 62, e202307015.
■Identification of A Glycotope Candidate of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli - Expectations for Vaccine Development Using Chemical Synthesis
・Abstract: We have succeeded for the first time in chemically synthesizing a unique glycan structure contained in pathogenic E. coli O1 using our developed glycosylation method. In addition, the glycan structure was identified as a glycotope candidate for the development of a vaccine against avian pathogenic E. coli O1.
- Publication: Synthesis of a pentasaccharide repeating unit of lipopolysaccharide derived from virulent E. coli O1 and identification of a glycotope candidate of avian pathogenic E. coli O1, Nobuya Nishi, Katsunori Seki, Daisuke Takahashi and Kazunobu Toshima, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2021, 60, 1789-1796.
■New Technology for Selectively Introducing Sugars by Distinguishing Equivalent Hydroxyl Groups - Simplifying the Synthesis of Antibiotics and Contributing to Drug Discovery Research
・Abstract：We have succeeded in developing a new catalytic glycosylation reaction that distinguishes two equivalent hydroxyl groups of meso-diols and diastereoselectively imparts a sugar to one of the hydroxyl groups. This technology is expected to contribute widely to drug discovery, medicine, and biology, including the development of new antibiotics.
- 参考文献: Diastereoselective desymmetric 1,2-cis-glycosylation of meso-diols via chirality transfer from a glycosyl donor, Masamichi Tanaka, Koji Sato, Ryoki Yoshida, Nobuya Nishi, Rikuto Oyamada, Kazuki Inaba, Daisuke Takahashi and Kazunobu Toshima, Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 2431.

Areas of Research

・Molecular Life Chemistry
・Glycoscience / Glycochemistry
・Chemical Biology
・Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Social Contributions

・Creation of next-generation drug discovery modalities
・Development of carbohydrate-based pharmaceuticals
・Development of cosmeceutical materials
・Elucidation of life phenomena
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