PROFILE M.
2023

Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE)

SPECIAL TOPICS

Analyzing glycans, the third life chain,

For details, please refer to the Organization's website(https://igcore.thers.ac.jp/)

and redeﬁning life science from Japan.

The
The establishedestablished tradition
tradition ofof glycoscience
glycoscience
takes
takes thethe leadlead inin next
next generation
generation medicine.
medicine.

Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE)
Integrated Glyco-Biomedical Research Center (iGMED)
Division of Molecular Physiology and Dynamics
Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
Professor

OKAJIMA, Tetsuya

Aiming to
Aimingto decode
decode all
all glycans
glycans andand develop
develop new
new diagnosis
diagnosis andand treatment
treatment
through fusion
throughfusion research,
research, thethe first
first inin thethe world.
world.
Advancement inAdvancementin sciencescience andand medicine
medicine isis largely
largely based
based onon whole-genome
whole-genome analysis
analysis andand protein
proteinresearch. However,research.
However, many
many mysteries
mysteries inin lifelife phenomena
phenomena still
still remain.
remain. Glycans
Glycans have
have gained
gained attention
attention
as aa possibleaspossible key
key toto solving
solving those
those secrets.
secrets. Along
Along with
with genomes
genomes andand proteins,proteins, glycans
glycans areareconsidered toconsidered
to bebe essential
essential molecularmolecular chains,chains, andand often
often referredreferred toto asas thethe third
third life
life chain.
chain. Glycans
Glycans
cover thecover
the surface
surface ofof all
all cells,
cells, andand come
come inin an
an enormous
enormous variety.
variety. Their
Their structure
structure andand changing
changing
forms have
forms
have been
been found
found toto be
be closely
closely related
related to
to many
many life
life phenomena
phenomena andand diseases,
diseases, including
includingimmune andimmuneand nerve
nerve function,function, aging,
aging, infection,
infection, cancer
cancer development
development andand dementia.
dementia. For
For example,
example,differences indifferencesin blood
blood type
type areare thethe result
result ofof different
different glycan
glycan forms,
forms, andand thethe drug
drug Tamiflu
Tamiflu used
used tototreat thetreat
the fluflu (influenza)(influenza) was
was bornborn fromfrom glycan
glycan research.
research.
Previously, life
Previously,
life phenomena
phenomena were
were studiedstudied mainly
mainly based
based ofof genomes
genomes andand proteins.
proteins. To
To truly
truly
understand life
understandlife andand seesee thethe whole
whole picture
picture however,
however, glycan
glycan information
information isis essential.
essential. Japan
Japan has
hastaken thetaken
the international
international lead
lead inin glycoscience
glycoscience research,
research, andand Nagoya
Nagoya University,
University, namely
namely thethe School
Schoolof Medicine,ofMedicine, was
was quick
quick toto focus
focus onon glycans.
glycans. Many
Many researchers,
researchers, most
most affiliatedaffiliated with
with thetheDepartment of
Departmentof Biochemistry,
Biochemistry, have
have been
been studying
studying this
this field
field forfor many
many years.
years. Based
Based onon thisthis tradition,
tradition,
the Tokai
theTokai National
National Higher
Higher Education
Education andand Research
Research System*1
System*1 waswas establishedestablished byby thethe Institute
Institute for
for
Glyco-core Research
Glyco-core
Research (iGCORE)(iGCORE) inin 2020.
2020. As
As aa hub
hub andand basebase ofof glycoscience
glycoscience inin Japan,Japan, world
world
top-level researchers
top-level
researchers inin glycochemistry
glycochemistry andand imaging,
imaging, glycobiology,
glycobiology, andand glycomedicine
glycomedicine have
have
gathered togatheredto thisthis instituteinstitute fromfrom Nagoya
Nagoya andand Gifu
Gifu Universities,
Universities, expanding
expanding their
their researchresearch activities.
activities.

08 Profile M. 2 0 2 3

For details, please refer to the Organization's website(https://igcore.thers.ac.jp/)

In
In 2022,2022, thethe Glyco
Glyco Science
Science Network
Network (J-GlycoNet),(J-GlycoNet), which
which isis supported
supportedbyby iGCORE,
iGCORE, waswas designateddesignated byby thethe Ministry
Ministry ofof Education,
Education, Culture,
Culture,Sports,Sports, Science
Science andand Technology
Technology (MEXT)(MEXT) as
as aa Joint
Joint Usage/Research
Usage/ResearchCenter.
Center. Not
Not only
only individual
individual researchresearch projects,
projects, but
but also
also integrative
integrative
research
research projects
projects thatthat combine
combine glycans
glycans with
with genomes
genomes andand proteins,proteins, areareunderwayunderway inin aa nationwide
nationwide systemsystem inin coordination
coordination with
with thethe Exploratory
Exploratory
ResearchResearch Center
Center on
on LifeLife andand Living
Living Systems
Systems (ExCELLS)(ExCELLS) at
at thethe
National
National Institutes
Institutes ofof Natural
Natural Sciences
Sciences (NINS)(NINS) andand Glycan
Glycan && LifeLife
SystemSystem Integration
Integration Center
Center (GaLSIC)(GaLSIC) at
at Soka
Soka University.
University.
For
For example,
example, thethe Human
Human Glycome
Glycome Atlas
Atlas Project
Project (HGA)(HGA) -From-From
Glycome
Glycome Big
Big Data
Data toto Innovations
Innovations inin LifeLife Science
Science andand MedicineMedicine- ininwhich
which iGCORE
iGCORE plays
plays aa central
central role,role, has
has been
been chosen
chosen as
as aa Project
Project totoP
P romote
romote La
La rge-Sca
rge-Sca lele Academ
Academ ic
ic Frontiers*2
Frontiers*2 by
by tt hehe Japa
Japa nese
nese
government
government inin 2023.
2023. The
The word
word "glycome""glycome" isis usedused toto describe
describe aa sugar
sugar
cha
cha in.
in. TT hh isis will
will bebe thethe ff ii rst
rst timetime inin thethe worldworld where
where va
va rr ious
ious
cutting-edge
cutting-edge approaches
approaches areare used
used toto completely
completely decode
decode thethe vast
vast
amountamount ofof glycan
glycan structures
structures present
present inin humans
humans inin orderorder toto clearlyclearly
understandunderstand thethe principles
principles ofof life,life, andand thenthen connect
connect this
this knowledge
knowledge totoinnovative
innovative medicine.
medicine.
In
In thisthis project,
project, human
human glycan
glycan information
information will
will bebe meticulously
meticulously read
read
andand aa precise
precise map
map ofof thethe human
human glycan
glycan will
will bebe prepared.
prepared. It
It isis
importantimportant toto notenote thatthat there
there areare significant
significant variations
variations inin glycans
glycansamong
among individuals.
individuals. For
For instance,
instance, blood
blood type-specifictype-specific glycans
glycans cancan varyvary
dependingdepending on
on factors
factors such
such asas race,race, age,
age, andand otherother demographic
demographic
variables.
variables. Consequently,
Consequently, information
information on
on human
human glycan
glycan structures
structures mustmust
be
be collectedcollected fromfrom various
various groups,
groups, fromfrom young
young people
people toto thethe elderly,
elderly,peoplepeople with
with diseases,
diseases, etc.,
etc., inin orderorder toto understandunderstand thethe mechanisms
mechanisms ofofdiseasesdiseases andand aging
aging andand generate
generate aa human
human disease-relateddisease-related glycan
glycancatalog.
catalog. We
We areare also
also working
working toto clarify
clarify thethe mechanism
mechanism ofof glycan
glycanproduction
production inin thethe body
body toto obtain
obtain an
an atlasatlas ofof glycan
glycan biosynthesis
biosynthesis
pathways.
pathways. Furthermore,
Furthermore, aa comprehensive
comprehensive knowledge
knowledge base
base onon glycan
glycaninformation,
information, TOHSA,TOHSA, will
will bebe established,established, inin an
an effort
effort toto publicize
publicize this
this
information
information forfor useuse inin various
various studies.
studies.

T
T hh isis project,
project, conductedconducted byby tt hh ree
ree resea
resea rch
rch ii nstit
nstit utes
utes shasha rr ii ngngvariousvarious roles,
roles, promotes
promotes cohort
cohort studies
studies ofof human
human populations
populations that
that
exploreexplore thethe relationshiprelationship between
between glycans
glycans andand diseasedisease throughthrough thetheparticipation
participation ofof many
many talented
talented resources
resources inin iGCORE,
iGCORE, especially
especiallythosethose inin thethe Graduate
Graduate School
School ofof Medicine
Medicine ofof thisthis University.
University.
Furthermore,
Furthermore, thethe Brain
Brain && MindMind Research
Research Center,
Center, managed
managed byby thethedepartments
departments ofof Neurology,
Neurology, Psychiatry,
Psychiatry, andand Neurosurgery,
Neurosurgery, andand inin
cc oo oo pp ee rr aa tt ii oo nn w
w ii tt hh tt hh ee N
N aa tt ii oo nn aa ll C
C ee nn tt ee rr ff oo rr G
G ee rr ii aa tt rr ii cc ss aa nn dd
Gerontology
Gerontology (NCGG)(NCGG) andand thethe Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan
Metropolitan Institute
Institute for
for
Geriatrics
Geriatrics andand Gerontology
Gerontology (TMIG),(TMIG), will
will perfor
perfor m
m analysis
analysis ofof
glycans
glycans based
based onon blood
blood samples
samples fromfrom approx.
approx. 20,000
20,000 persons
persons over
over
55 ye
ye aa rr s,s, ii nn aa nn ef
ef forfor tt tt oo cla
cla rr ii ff yy tt hh ee mm ee chch aa nn ii sm
sm ss uu ndnd ee rly
rly ii ng
ng
dementia
dementia andand aging.
aging. The
The goal
goal isis toto develop
develop biomarkers,
biomarkers, mainly
mainlyglycans,
glycans, thatthat cancan bebe usedused inin blood
blood tests
tests forfor early
early diagnosis
diagnosis ofofdementia.
dementia. By
By predicting
predicting thethe risk
risk ofof developing
developing various
various types
types ofof
dementia,
dementia, including
including Alzheimer's,
Alzheimer's, thethe searchsearch forfor new
new treatments
treatments
wh
wh ichich hh ave
ave nn oo tt bb ee ee nn ava
ava ii ll aa ble
ble upup tt oo nn ow
ow w
w ii ll ll bb ee pp oo ss sible.
sible.
Furthermore,
Furthermore, with
with thethe collection
collection ofof human
human glycan
glycan information
information ofof
approx.
approx. 200,000
200,000 cases
cases within
within thethe next
next 55 years,
years, understanding
understanding thetherelationshiprelationship between
between glycans
glycans andand intractable
intractable cancers
cancers andand otherotherdiseasesdiseases isis expected.
expected.
TrendsTrends inin researchresearch themes
themes changechange with
with thethe generation.
generation. However,
However,thethe pioneers
pioneers at
at thisthis university
university have
have patiently
patiently continued
continued their
their work
work
on
on glycans,glycans, unphased
unphased by
by current
current popular
popular trends.
trends. II personallypersonally have
have
continued
continued toto pursue
pursue researchresearch inin glycans,glycans, strongly
strongly aware
aware ofof thethemm aa ny
ny pp ossibi
ossibi ll it
it iesies ii nn tt he
he rr elat
elat ionsh
ionsh ip
ip bb et
et we
we en
en gg lyca
lyca ns
ns aa ndnddiseases,diseases, such
such asas cancer,
cancer, dementia,
dementia, andand neurologic
neurologic diseases,
diseases, etc.
etc.
Recently,
Recently, cancer
cancer has
has begun
begun toto be
be labeledlabeled as
as aa curable
curable disease.
disease.
However,
However, some
some cancers
cancers areare still
still intractable,
intractable, including
including pancreatic
pancreaticcancer.
cancer. Study
Study ofof glycans
glycans may
may contributecontribute toto future
future diagnosis
diagnosis andandtt reatreat ment
ment ofof suchsuch ca
ca ncer
ncer ss aa ndnd ot
ot herher dd isea
isea ses.
ses. FuFu rr tt her
her more,
more,
resea
resea rch
rch inin glycaglyca nn age
age asas aa nn indicator
indicator inin thethe mama intenaintena nce
nce ofofhealthhealth is
is also
also being
being considered.
considered.
From
From aa global
global standpoint,
standpoint, progress
progress inin thethe researchresearch on
on glycans
glycans has
has
been
been slow
slow duedue toto theirtheir complexity
complexity andand diversity,
diversity, andand recognition
recognitionofof glycans
glycans inin societysociety has
has yetyet toto be
be established.
established. At
At thethe samesame time,time,ouou rr goa
goa ll isis toto mapm ap aa ll ll gglyca
lyca ns
ns witwit hh ii nn tt hehe next
next 10
10 yeayea rr ss aa ndndconnect
connect this
this toto diagnosis,
diagnosis, treatment,
treatment, andand thethe prevention
prevention ofof thethediseasedisease based
based onon thethe obtained
obtained information.
information. This
This isis aa very
very lofty
lofty
gg oo aa ll ,, bb uu tt w
w ee hh oo pp ee tt oo ee xx tt ee nn ss ii vv ee ll yy ee dd uu cc aa tt ee ss oo cc ii ee tt yy oo nn tt hh eeimportanceimportance ofof glycans
glycans byby sharing
sharing thethe significancesignificance ofof ourour projects
projects
andand returning
returning thethe researchresearch results
results toto society,society, which
which inin turn,turn, will
will
furtherfurther promote
promote researchresearch activities.
activities. In
In addition,
addition, we
we hopehope toto sharesharethethe attraction
attraction ofof glycan
glycan researchresearch toto thethe younger
younger generation,
generation, andandpromotepromote thethe training
training ofof researchers
researchers who
who cancan continue
continue toto carry
carry our
ourrolerole into
into thethe next
next generation.
generation. Integrative
Integrative researchresearch centering
centering ononglycans
glycans represents
represents anan untouched
untouched field
field inin thethe world.
world. II believe
believe this
thischallenge
challenge will
will redefine
redefine ourour viewview ofof lifelife science.
science.

*1Tokai*1Tokai National
National Higher
Higher Education
Education andand Research
Research System
System ／ Integration
Integration ofof Nagoya
Nagoya University
University andand Gifu
Gifu University
University under
under one
one corporation
corporation inin orderorder toto shareshare thethe strengths
strengths ofof eacheach university,
university,
aimingaiming toto contributecontribute toto regional
regional development
development andand advancement
advancement into
into world-leadingworld-leading researchresearch universities.
universities. EstablishedEstablished inin April
April 2020.
2020.
*2*2 Project
Project toto Promote
Promote Large-Scale
Large-Scale Academic
Academic Frontiers
Frontiers ／ A
A project
project byby thethe Ministry
Ministry ofof Education,
Education, Culture,
Culture, Sports,
Sports, Science
Science andand Technology
Technology (MEXT),(MEXT), combining
combining cutting-edge
cutting-edge technology
technology andandknowledgeknowledge toto meetmeet challenges
challenges inin researchresearch thatthat have
have notnot been
been attempted
attempted by
by manman upup to
to now,now, andand promote
promote large-scalelarge-scale projects
projects with
with groundbreaking
groundbreaking results
results which
which will
will lead
lead future
future world
world academic
academic
research.
research.

Profile M. 2 0 2 309