This website uses cookies to improve the user experience. If you continue on this website, you will provide your consent to our use of cookies.

Access Contact 日本語
  1. TOP
  2. Research grants
  3. Kazuki Kato

Kazuki Kato Kazuki Kato

Associate Professor, Institute of Integrated Research, Institute of Science Tokyo *Profile is at the time of the award.

2026TakameruBiology & Life sciences(takameru)

researchmap
Research topics
Unraveling the Antiviral Defense Mechanism by CRISPR-Cas protease
Keyword
Summary
CRISPR-Cas systems serve as a prokaryotic adaptive immune defense against viral infections. While many Cas enzymes, such as Cas9, have been widely adapted for biotechnological applications, we recently discovered that the Cas7-11:Csx29 complex from Desulfonema ishimotonii functions as a unique RNA-dependent protease (Kato et al., Science, 2022). This complex activates upon recognizing target RNA to cleave specific proteins, yet the exact mechanism of its antiviral defense remains a mystery. Given the immense diversity of microbial life, this research utilizes bioinformatics to identify novel Cas7-11:Csx29 variants and employs a combination of genetic, biochemical, and structural biology approaches to uncover the diverse immune strategies these protease-based CRISPR systems utilize to protect bacteria from viral attack.

Message

Since my former mentor was an InaRIS Fellow, receiving support from the Inamori Foundation has long been one of my personal goals. In this research, I will focus on the Cas7-11:Csx29 complex, a unique member of the CRISPR-Cas family that exhibits protease activity. My objective is to fully elucidate the mechanism by which bacteria utilize this Cas-protease activity to defend themselves against viral infections.

Find other recipients

Biology & Life sciences(takameru)

PAGE TOP