Kinbara Research Group

Takahiro Muraoka, PhD

DSC00565

E-mail: tmuraoka/at/bio.titech.ac.jp

Education
1998 Apr 1–2002 Mar 31: The Univ. of Tokyo, Dept. of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering (B.Eng)
2002 Apr 1–2004 Mar 31: The Univ. of Tokyo, Dept. of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Grad. School of Engineering (M.Eng)
2004 Apr 1–2007 Mar 31: The Univ. of Tokyo, Dept. of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Grad. School of Engineering (Ph.D., Aida Lab)

Professional Appointments
2004 Apr 1–2007 Mar 31: JSPS Researcher (Young Scientists Fellowship)
2006 Jul 6–2008 Apr 30: Visiting Scholar, Northwestern Univ (Stupp Lab).
2007 Apr 1–2008 Apr 30: JSPS Researcher (Research Fellowship for Young Scientists)
2008 May 1–2015 Apr 30: Assistant Professor, Tohoku Univ., Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
2015 May 1–2017 Jan 31: Assistant Professor, Tokyo Inst. of Technology, Dept. of Life Science and Technology
2013 Oct 1–2017 Mar 31: JST PRESTO Researcher
2017 Feb 1–Present: Associate Professor (PI), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Institute of Global Innovation Research

Favorites
Travelling and Eating

Publications

(35)
Newly characterized interaction stabilizes DNA structure: oligoethylene glycols stabilize G-quadruplexes CH–π interactions

Hisae Tateishi-Karimata, Tatsuya Ohyama, Takahiro Muraoka, Peter Podbevsek, Adam M. Wawro, Shigenori Tanaka, Shu-ichi Nakano, Kazushi Kinbara, Janez Plavec, and Naoki Sugimoto
Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 (10.1093/nar/gkx299)

(34)
Multigram chromatography-free synthesis of octa(ethylene glycol) p-toluenesulfonate
Adam M. Wawro, Takahiro Muraoka, Maho Kato, and Kazushi Kinbara
Org. Chem. Front. 20163, 1524–1534 (10.1039/C6QO00398B)
ga

(33)
G-quadruplexes with Tetraethylene Glycol-modified Deoxythymidines Are Resistant to Nucleases and Inhibit HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase
Hisae Tateishi-Karimata, Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, and Naoki Sugimoto
ChemBioChem 2016, 17, 1399–1402 (selected as the Cover, 10.1002/cbic.201600162).
cbic201600162-toc-0001-m          cbic201600390

(32)
Contrasting Topological Effect of PEG-containing Amphiphiles to Natural Lipids on Stability of Vesicles
Rui Li, Takahiro Muraoka,* and Kazushi Kinbara*
Langmuir 201632, 4546–4553 (10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b00713).
Li_TOC

(31)
Chromatography-Free Synthesis of Monodisperse Oligo(ethylene glycol) Mono-p-toluenesulfonates and Quantitative Analysis of Oligomer Purity
Adam M. Wawro, Takahiro Muraoka, and Kazushi Kinbara
Polym. Chem. 20167, 2389–2394.
GA

(30)
Synthesis and Thermal Responses of Polygonal Poly(ethylene glycol) Analogues
Shunichi Kawasaki, Takahiro Muraoka,* Tsutomu Hamada, Kazuki Shigyou, Fumi Nagatsugi and Kazushi Kinbara*
Chem. Asian J. 2016, 11, 1028–1035 (selected as a Very Important Paper (VIP), Highlighted in ChemistryViews, 10.1002/asia.201501381).
TOCforHP          U1_forHP

(29)
Bioinspired Multi-block Molecules
Takahiro Muraoka and Kazushi Kinbara*
Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 2667–2678 (Feature Article, Selected as the Inside Back Cover, 10.1039/C5CC08052E).
GraphicalAbstract_Large          c6cc90066f

(28)
Development of Stimuli-Responsive Multi-Block Amphiphiles
Takahiro Muraoka, Shunichi Kawasaki, and Kazushi Kinbara*
J. Photopolym. Sci. Tec. 2015, 28, 579–582.

(27)
Protein Stabilization by an Amphiphilic Short Monodisperse Oligo(ethylene glycol)
Nabanita Sadhukhan, Takahiro Muraoka,* Mihoko Ui, Satoru Nagatoishi, Kouhei Tsumoto, and Kazushi Kinbara*
Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 8457–8460.
TOC_forHP

(26)
Reversible Ion Transportation Switch by a Ligand-Gated Synthetic Supramolecular Ion Channel
Takahiro Muraoka,* Takahiro Endo, Kazuhito V. Tabata, Hiroyuki Noji, Satoru Nagatoishi, Kouhei Tsumoto, Rui Li and Kazushi Kinbara*
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 15584–15595.
TOC_forHP

(25)
Grafting Synthetic Transmembrane Units to the Engineered Low-Toxicity alpha-Hemolysin to Restore Its Hemolytic Activity
Mihoko Ui, Kousuke Harima, Toshiaki Takei, Kouhei Tsumoto, Kazuhito V. Tabata, Hiroyuki Noji, Sumire Endo, Kimio Akiyama, Takahiro Muraoka, and Kazushi Kinbara
Mol. BioSyst. 2014, 10, 3199–3206.

(24)
Light-Triggered Vesicle Formation: Important Factors for Generation of Vesicles and Possible Applications
Tatsuya Shima, Takahiro Muraoka, Kazuhito V. Tabata, Hiroyuki Noji and Kazushi Kinbara
Pure Appl. Chem. 2014, 86, 1259–1267.

(23)
Single-Cell E. coli Response to an Instantaneously Applied Chemotactic Signal
Takashi Sagawa, Yu Kikuchi, Yuichi Inoue, Hiroto Takahashi, Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, Akihiko Ishijima and Hajime Fukuoka
Biophys. J. 2014, 107, 730–739.

(22)
Thermodriven Micrometer-Scale Aqueous-Phase Separation of Amphiphilic Oligoethylene Glycol Analogues
Shunichi Kawasaki, Takahiro Muraoka,* Haruki Obara, Takerou Ishii, Tsutomu Hamada and Kazushi Kinbara*
Chem. Asian J. 2014, 9, 2778–2788 (Selected as the Back Cover).
TOC_forHP          mcontent

(21)
Development of Self-Assembling Alternating Amphiphilic Compounds
Takahiro Muraoka, Nabanita Sadhukhan, Rui Li and Kazushi Kinbara*
J. Photopolym. Sci. Tec. 2014, 27, 557–560.

(20)
Micrometer-Size Vesicle Formation Triggered by UV Light
Tatsuya Shima, Takahiro Muraoka,* Tsutomu Hamada, Masamune Morita, Masahiro Takagi, Hajime Fukuoka, Yuichi Inoue, Takashi Sagawa, Akihiko Ishijima, Yuki Omata, Takashi Yamashita and Kazushi Kinbara*
Langmuir 2014, 30, 7289–7295.
TOC_forHP

(19)
Thermally Driven Polymorphic Transition Prompting a Naked-Eye-Detectable Bending and Straightening Motion of Single Crystals
Tatsuya Shima, Takahiro Muraoka,* Norihisa Hoshino, Tomoyuki Akutagawa, Yuka Kobayashi and Kazushi Kinbara*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 7173–7178.
TOC_forHP

(18)
Thermoresponsive Self-assembly and Conformational Changes of Amphiphilic Monodisperse Short Poly(ethylene glycol)s in Water
Nabanita Sadhukhan, Takahiro Muraoka,* Daisuke Abe, Yuji Sasanuma, Dwiky Rendra Graha Subekti and Kazushi Kinbara*
Chem. Lett. 2014, 43, 1055–1057.
TOC_forHP

(17)
Transetherification on Polyols by Intra- and Intermolecular Nucleophilic Substitutions
Takahiro Muraoka, Kota Adachi, Rainy Chowdhury and Kazushi Kinbara
PLoS ONE 2014, 9, e91912.

(16)
Thermal-Aggregation Suppression of Proteins by a Structured PEG Analogue: Importance of Denaturation Temperature for Effective Aggregation Suppression
Takahiro Muraoka, Nabanita Sadhukhan, Mihoko Ui, Shunichi Kawasaki, Enrikko Hazemi, Kota Adachi, and Kazushi Kinbara
Biochem. Eng. J. 2014, 86C, 41–48.
Muraoka_BEJ_GraphicalAbst_forHP

(15)
Development and Functionalization of Structural Mimics of Multipass Transmembrane Proteins
Takahiro Muraoka and Kazushi Kinbara
J. Syn. Org. Chem. Jpn. 2013, 71, 1045–1050.

(14)
A Structured Monodisperse PEG for the Effective Suppression of Protein Aggregation
Takahiro Muraoka,* Kota Adachi, Mihoko Ui, Shunichi Kawasaki, Nabanita Sadhukhan, Haruki Obara, Hidehito Tochio, Masahiro Shirakawa, and Kazushi Kinbara*
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 2430–2434 [Selected as a “Very Important Paper (VIP)” & a “Back Cover”, Highlighted in Wiley-JAPAN Science Cafe].
TOC_forHP          201300347_ftp

(13)
Ion Permeation by a Folded Multiblock Amphiphilic Oligomer Achieved by Hierarchical Construction of Self-Assembled Nanopores
Takahiro Muraoka,* Tatsuya Shima, Tsutomu Hamada, Masamune Morita, Masahiro Takagi, Kazuhito V. Tabata, Hiroyuki Noji, and Kazushi Kinbara*
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 19788–19794. (DOI: 10.1021/ja308342g).
TOC_forHP

(12)
Development of Photoresponsive Supramolecular Machines Inspired by Biological Molecular Systems
Takahiro Muraoka, and Kazushi Kinbara
J. Photoch. Photobio. C 2012, 13, 136–147.

(11)
Mimicking Multipass Transmembrane Proteins: Synthesis, Assembly and Folding of Alternating Amphiphilic Multiblock Molecules in Liposomal Membranes
Takahiro Muraoka, Tatsuya Shima, Tsutomu Hamada, Masamune Morita, Masahiro Takagi, and Kazushi Kinbara
Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 194–196. [Selected as a Hot Article, Emerging Investigators Issue]
TOC_forHP

(10)
Light-Triggered Bioactivity in Three Dimensions
Takahiro Muraoka, Chung-Yan Koh, Honggang Cui, and Samuel I. Stupp
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 5946–5949 [Selected as a “Hot Paper”].
TOC_forHP

(9)
Self-Assembly of Giant Peptide Nanobelts
Honggang Cui, Takahiro Muraoka, Andrew G. Cheetham, and Samuel I. Stupp
Nano Lett. 2009, 9, 945–951.

(8)
Chiral Ferrocenes as Novel Rotary Modules for Molecular Machines
Kazushi Kinbara, Takahiro Muraoka, and Takuzo Aida
Org. Biomol. Chem. 2008, 1871–1876 [Selected as “Emerging Area” and “Front Cover”; The Top 10 Downloaded Articles in May 2008].
TOC_forHP          b718982f_2

(7)
Quadruple Helix Formation of a Photoresponsive Peptide Amphiphile and Its Light-Triggered Dissociation into Single Fibers
Takahiro Muraoka, Honggang Cui, and Samuel I. Stupp
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 2946–2947.
TOC_forHP

(6)
Reversible Operation of Chiral Molecular Scissors by Redox and UV Light
Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, and Takuzo Aida
Chem. Commun. 2007, 1441–1443.
TOC_forHP

(5)
Crystallographic and Chiroptical Studies on Tetraarylferrocenes for Use as Chiral Rotary Modules for Molecular Machines
Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, Atsushi Wakamiya, Shigehiro Yamaguchi, and Takuzo Aida
Chem. Eur. J. 2007, 13, 1724–1730.

TOC_forHP

(4)
A Self-Locking Molecule Operative with a Photoresponsive Key
Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, and Takuzo Aida
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128, 11600–11605.
TOC_forHP

(3)
Mechanical Twisting of a Guest by a Photoresponsive Host
Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, and Takuzo Aida
Nature 2006, 440, 512–515 [Highlighted in Angewandte Chemie, C&EN, Nanotechweb.org, Newscientist and Photonics.com].
forHP

(2)
Functionalization of Light-Driven Chiral Molecular Scissors
Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, Yuka Kobayashi, and Takuzo Aida
J. Porphyr. Phthalocya. 2004, 8, 774.

(1)
Light-Driven Open-Close Motion of Chiral Molecular Scissors
Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara, Yuka Kobayashi, and Takuzo Aida
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 5612–5613 [Highlighted in Newscientist].
TOC_forHP

Awards
2016: 2016 Tokyo Tech Challenging Research Award
2016: Poster Presentation Prize in Japan–Taiwan Joint Seminar on Energy and Environment for Young Chemists (Polymorphic Transition of Multi–Block Macrocycles, Kota Nabeya, Takahiro Muraoka, Kazushi Kinbara)
2016: The Young Scientists’ Prize in The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
2015: Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemists
2014: Biofunctional Chemistry Symposium Presentation Award
2014: Chemical Society of Japan Presentation Award
2013: Hatano Grant Award for Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
2013: Sekisui Chemical Grant Award
2010: Chemical Society of Japan Presentation Award for Young Chemists
2009: Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists
2007: Dean’s Prize (The Univ. of Tokyo, Grad. School of Engineering)
2006: Presentation Prize for Students (86th Spring Annual Meeting of the Chemical Society of Japan)

Invited Lectures

2017.8.2–4: Summer Camp of SPSJ Polymer Seminar for Young Researchers, Tokyo, Japan.
“TBA”

2017.3.4: Seminar at Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
“Synthetic Approach for Protein Manipulation”

2017.1.21: Workshop on “Soft Molecular Systems”, Tokyo, Japan.
“Bioinspired Functional Molecules with Rigid and Flexible Units”

2016.11.17: The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, Symposium on Interaction between Biological Membranes and Drugs, Nagoya, Japan.
“Synthetic Approach to Reconstruct Membrane Proteins”

2016.10.28: 28th SPSJ Biomaterials Symposium for Young Researchers, Tokyo, Japan
“Membrane-Functionalizing Molecules Inspired by Proteins”

2016.10.5–9: 14th International Congress of Young Chemists YoungChem 2016, Czestochowa, Poland.
“Bio-inspired Multi-block Molecules”

2016.9.14–16 (Requested Presentation): 65th SPSJ Symposium on Macromolecules, Yokohama, Japan.
“Functionalization of Vesicular Membranes by Multi-block Amphiphiles”

2016.8.15–18: International Symposium on Pure & Applied Chemistry (ISPAC) 2016, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
“Bio-inspired Multi-block Amphiphiles Functioning in Membrane and Crystal”

2016.7.8: FIBER International Summit for Nucleic Acids (FISNA) 2016 at Konan University, Kobe, Japan.
“Structured and Amphiphilic PEGs for Bio-related Chemistry”

2016.6.24: JSPS Bilateral Program, Japan-Taiwan Joint Seminar on Energy and Environment for Young Chemists, Gaoxiong, Taiwan.
“Bio-inspired Multi-block Molecules”

2016.5.20: Meeting in Supramolecular Chemistry Group, the Society of Polymer Science, Japan, Tokyo, Japan.
“Dynamic Function of Self-Assembling Multi-Block Amphiphiles”

2016.3.27: Chemical Society of Japan, 96th Annual Spring Meeting, Kyoto, Japan.
“Dynamic Supramolecular Ion Channels Inspired by Membrane Proteins”

2016.3.22: Seminar at Otto-Diels-Institut für Organische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
“Bio-inspired Supramolecular Chemistry in Solution, Membrane and Crystals”

2016.3.21: Seminar at Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
“Short and Monodispersed PEGs as a Stimuli-responsive Unit for Protein Stabilization and Crystalline Polymorphism”

2016.3.18: Japan-Germany Joint Workshop on “Molecular Technology”, Berlin, Germany.
“Bio-inspired Design of Supramolecular Ion Channels”

2016.3.15: Seminar at the Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
“Structured and Amphiphilic PEGs for Bio-inspired Chemistry”

2015.9.26: Prof. Miyano Project Symposium in Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara, Japan.
“Mimicking Membrane Proteins by Synthetic Molecules”

2015.9.12: Tohoku Branch Symposium of the Chemical Society of Japan, Hirosaki, Japan.
“Multi-Block Amphiphiles Functioning in Membrane and Crystalline Media”

2015.6.26: The 32nd International Conference of Photopolymer Science and Technology, Makuhari, Japan
“Development of Stimuli-Resposnsive Multi-Block Amphiphiles”

2015.6.13: IMS Asian International Symposium (Supramolecular Dynamics at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology), Okazaki, Japan.
“Bioinspired Multi-block Amphiphiles”

2015.3.28: Award Lecture in Chemical Society of Japan, 95th Annual Spring Meeting, Chiba, Japan.
“Development of Stimuli–Responsive Functional Molecules Inspired by Nature”

2015.3.27: Asian International Symposium in Chemical Society of Japan, 95th Annual Spring Meeting, Chiba, Japan.
“Synthetic Approach to Mimic Membrane Proteins”

2015.3.27: Chemical Society of Japan, 95th Annual Spring Meeting, Chiba, Japan.
“Development of Synthetic Protein Mimics toward Molecular Treatment Technology for Protein Diseases”

2015.3.11: Seminar in School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
“Stimuli-Responsive Functional Molecules Inspired by Nature”

2015.3.9: France–Japan, Molecular Technology Symposium, Paris, France
“Multi–block Amphiphiles as Synthetic Mimics of Membrane Proteins”

2015.3.4: Kyushu Branch Symposium of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan, Fukuoka, Japan.
“Functions of Multi-Block Amphiphiles in Membrane and Crystal”

2014.8.24–30: IUMRS-ICA, Fukuoka, Japan.
“Multi-Block Amphiphiles –Folding and Functions–”

2014.8.13: Organic Chemistry Seminar at Department of Chemistry, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
“Functional Multiblock Amphiphiles –Supramolecular Chemistry in Membrane and Crystal–”

2014.3.11: Noguchi Institute Grant Lecture, Tokyo, Japan.
“Development and Functions of Multipass Transmembrane Prortein Synthetic Mimics”

2013.9.2: Ochanomizu University, Department of Chemistry Lecture Series, Tokyo, Japan.
“Bio-Inspired and Bio-Functional Molecules”

2013.6.24: Collaborative Conference on Materials Research, Jeju Island, Korea.
“Discrete PEGs with Distinctive Functions”

2011.6.11: 7th International Workshop on Supramolecular Nanoscience of Chemically Programmed Pigments (SNCPP 11), Shiga, Japan.
“Mimicking Multipass Transmembrane Proteins: Folding and Assembly of Alternating Amphiphilic Multiblock Molecules in Liposomal Membranes”

2011.3.28: Asian International Symposium, in Chemical Society of Japan, 91st Annual Spring Meeting, Kanagawa, Japan.
“Mimicking Multipass Transmembrane Proteins: Folding and Assembly of Alternating Amphiphilic Multiblock Molecules in Liposomal Membranes”

2010.3.28: Lectures of Young Chemists, Chemical Society of Japan, Osaka, Japan.
“Light-Triggered Transformation and Transmission of Mechanical Motions through Covalent and Non-Covalent Bonds”

2009.11.19: Tohoku Branch Symposium of the Society of Polymer Science, Hirosaki, Japan.
“Photo–Conversion of Highly Ordered Peptide Amphiphiles Structures”