Launch of the Lipidome Atlas Project to Explore the Essence of Life

While comprehensive analysis of genomes and proteins has advanced,

it is only very recently that comprehensive analysis of lipids has become possible, despite their importance.

Finally, in October 2021, the Lipidome Atlas Project was launched,

led by the Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy.

Professor Makoto Arita, who directs this research, is trying to unravel the mysteries of life through the structural diversity and functions of lipids.

As of December 2021

Photo: Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy

In our bodies, lipids serve as an energy source for life, as components of membranes that separate the inside and outside of cells, and as signaling molecules. “I want to know the principles and mechanisms of the order of life.” Driven by a pure interest in living organisms, Professor Arita thought that by studying the structural diversity and physiological functions of lipids, he could gain a deeper understanding of life. Life is a complex system of diverse, interacting molecules. Professor Arita and his team have successfully developed mass spectrometry technology to clarify the structural diversity of lipids, which are estimated to number over 40,000 species. They have made it possible to simultaneously analyze lipids present in the body, and to quantify and visualize which lipids exist in specific organs and cells as a lipidome atlas. This has enabled the discovery of characteristic fluctuations in lipid metabolism in research on development, inflammation, aging, cancer, and gut bacteria.

Photo: Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy

“In the future, I want to visualize where in the organs and cells these lipid molecules act, what they act on, and how they work,” says Professor Arita. Clarifying the function of lipids will also lead to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. For example, diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases are associated with chronic inflammation caused by abnormalities in the lipid metabolism mechanism. Clarifying the lipid diversity of life and its physiological significance means understanding the mechanisms that maintain human health at the molecular level. “When you pursue what you want to know, a moment comes when everything suddenly becomes clear and you understand. The mechanisms of life created by nature are truly beautiful. That is the real pleasure of science.” Professor Arita told us that strong curiosity—the desire to know—is what supports new discoveries. It is this passion that allows the developed technology to be utilized, advancing research one step further.

Q. What is pharmacy to you?

A. Understanding the mechanisms that maintain health at the molecular level