1. Mode of action of marine natural products
   Toxic secondary metabolites (natural products) produced or accumulated by marine organisms are known as pharmaceutical resources. We have been elucidating their mode of action using various techniques of organic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. We would like not only to provide lead compounds for therapeutic purposes but also to contribute to food sanitation.
2. Detoxification mechanisms of organisms possessing marine natural products
   Organisms that accumulate or produce toxic secondary metabolites (natural products) are speculated to possess some strategies, such as mutation of receptors to which natural products bind to resistant forms or existence of enzymes that modify the structure of natural products and reduce their toxicity. We aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which organisms possess or produce these natural products using techniques of organic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. We would like to contribute to food safety through the development of quantitative methods for these compounds.

• Equipment of electrophysiology setups

The current that permeates the voltage-gated sodium channels expressed on the plasma membranes is only around 1 nA. Our laboratory is equipped with two electrophysiological instruments that can measure this extremely small amount of current and are conducting the research described above.

• Simplified analysis method for diarrheal Shellfish poisoning

　We have identified OABP2, a protein that exhibits a high binding affinity to okadaic acid, a diarrheal shellfish toxin, and have succeeded in expressing it as a recombinant protein. Currently, simple analysis of diarrheal shellfish toxins relies on ELISA, but OABP2 is a key substance for novel analysis methods of diarrheal shellfish toxins because it can be stored stably and is easily produced by bacteria.