Computational Biology Research Center[CBRC]

MISSION

Development of "POODLE", a disorder prediction program

MEMBERS

Tamotsu NOGUCHI : CBRC

Shuichi HIROSE : Pharma Design, Inc.

Kana SHIMIZU : CBRC, Waseda University

Satoru KANAI : Pharma Design, Inc.

Interview : 26th Apr. 2007

Finally drawing alongside the pioneers

May 2006. CASP7 had finally begun. In CASP7, approximately 100 targets were provided. An average of two to three weeks was given as a answere period for each target. Noguchi's team used their three versions of POODLE properly according to the target type, and tackled an individual target.
The CASP season stretched on for three months.
Tension and fatigue accumulated for each research team member over this long period.When they completed submission of their predictions in August, they were filled with a sense of achievement combined with fatigue and the absentmindedness.

November 26, of the same year. The time came when they would finally reap the fruits of their labor.A CASP7 meeting was held, where each research teams' answers were analyzed and evaluated, and the results announced by the assessors. With the focus of researchers from around the world upon them, Noguchi's team experienced the glory of winning 2nd position overall in the category of predicting disorder regions for all targets in the contest. Furthermore, it had been announced that their prediction for a long disorder region was the top of the world. Noguchi's strategy was proven to be correct on the stage of world.
"I was so proud that we had finally drawn alongside the pioneers in this research."

Expectation for improving the accuracy, and remaining issues.

In recent years, there has been increasing focus upon disorder regions in proteins. This is because it has become clear that parts that contribute to functional expression exist within disorder regions.

"Until now, disorder regions were parts discarded from research. They were considered to be "nuisances" in the protein". These regions are now being reevaluated. As a result, the POODLE program announced at CASP7 by Noguchi's group is garnering attention from around the world. It is expected that the prediction accuracy of these programs will be improved still more, and that they will be useful for clarifying the question about a disorder region in the future.
"However," Noguchi adds, "There is not enough data yet to enable us to increase the accuracy. This is a concern for us. As mentioned before, disorder region data used to be regard as a nuisance. As a result, only very small amounts of data have been saved or released. A remaining issue for us is to collaborate with the experiment researchers who analyses the protein structure and to secure large amounts of data."

This remaining issue must be resolved if the accuracy of the prediction method is to be improved and the method that provides real benefits to society is to be created. The successful strategy employed by Noguchi's team at CASP7 has become known across the world, and there is very high possibility that other teams will employ similar methods in competition.

Noguchi and his research team’s challenge continues.