Ryoji Suno

Profile

The axis of my research is to understand the principles of GPCR subtype and signaling selectivity from structure, and to work toward modalities that manipulate them. My group's technical strength is the production of high-quality preparations of drug-target proteins; on that foundation we pursue structural analysis and the discovery of molecules that control target function. GPCRs are a major focus. For each target we go from expression-system construction through purification, complex formation and quality control, and integrate cryo-electron microscopy, pharmacological functional analysis, studies of ligand subtype selectivity and biased signaling, and molecular discovery with antibodies, monobodies/nanobodies, AI-enabled de novo binders and DEL-derived small molecules. Our goal is to create diverse modalities that control protein function and develop them into new medicines.

Research Interests

• Production of high-quality membrane-protein preparations (expression, purification, complex formation, quality control)
• GPCR and membrane-protein structural biology by cryo-electron microscopy
• Ligand subtype selectivity and biased signaling
• Molecular discovery: antibodies, monobodies/nanobodies, AI-enabled de novo binders and small molecules by DEL screening
• Functional modalities and their development into new medicines

Major Research Targets

Major targets include opioid receptors, orexin receptors, prostaglandin E2 receptors, muscarinic receptors and bombesin receptors, together with other GPCRs and membrane proteins studied from both structural and functional perspectives.

Education

• 2004
  Ph.D. in Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology

  Doctoral thesis: “Studies on the ribosome-associated chaperone trigger factor from a thermophilic bacterium”

• 2000–2003
  Doctoral Program, Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• 1998–2000
  Master's Program, Department of Electronic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology
• 1993–1998
  Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Doshisha University

Academic Appointments

• 2023–Present
  Associate Professor, Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University
• 2018–2022
  Lecturer, Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University
• 2018
  Program-Specific Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

  February–September 2018

• 2013–2018
  Program-Specific Researcher, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University

  Visiting Researcher, Stanford University School of Medicine (2013, 2014)

• 2010–2013
  Program-Specific Researcher, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University

  Seconded to the Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University

• 2003–2010
  Industry-Academia-Government Collaborative Researcher, Chemical Resources Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology

  Including assignments at the Biomolecular Engineering Research Institute and the Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University

Selected Competitive Funding

• 2024–2026
  JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Principal Investigator

  Comprehensive elucidation of orexin receptor signaling mechanisms controlling sleep and wakefulness and development of selective therapeutics / JPY 18.46 million

• 2021–2023
  MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B), Principal Investigator

  Development of a rapid structural-analysis platform for transient protein complexes / JPY 40.95 million

• 2019–2023
  JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Principal Investigator

  Structural analysis of G protein/arrestin-GPCR complexes for biased-ligand development / JPY 13.10 million

Industry Collaboration

From 2020 through 2026, I have received collaborative or commissioned research funding from six pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Including continuing agreements, the research record contains 10 industry-funded research entries. Company names and individual project details are not disclosed on this website.

Selected Short Talks

• 2026
  Selected Short Talk, Gordon Research Conference, 2026

  Ligand Binding and Molecular Gating

  “Ligand-encoded allosteric networks dictate long-range arrestin silencing in the human delta-opioid receptor”

• 2025
  Selected Short Talk, Gordon Research Conference, 2025

  Molecular Pharmacology

  “Structural and Dynamic Insights into Human Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling”

Awards & Recognition

• 2023–2026
  Kansai Medical University Faculty Excellence Recognition

  Selected for four consecutive academic years (FY2022–FY2025)

• 2017
  Fellowship Award

  Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Asia Meeting