食品生命科学プログラム

上野 聡 教授 / UENO Satoru Professor

チョコレートマーガリンなどの食用固体脂やマヨネーズ・牛乳などのエマルション中の油脂の結晶化油脂の結晶構造の解明。これらの結晶化・結晶構造と食用固体脂などのおいしさとの関連性についても調べている。

Clarification of crystallization and crystal structure for edible solid fats such as chocolate and margarine, and emulsion system such as mayonnaise. We are also studying the relationship between these crystallization and/or crystal structure and deliciousness of edible solid fats.

keywords:crystallization, triacylglycerol, ultrasound stimulation, fats, polymorphic crystallization, crystallization, W/O)", winter adaptation, triacylglycero

  1. Synchrotron radiation microbeam X-ray analysis of microstructures and the polymorphic transformation of spherulite crystals of trilaurin/Cryst. Growth Design/2008
  2. In-situ studies of ultrasound-stimulated fat crystallisation using synchrotron radiation/J. Phys. Chem. B/2003
  3. Fat Bloom Caused by Partial De-Oiling on Chocolate Surfaces after High-Temperature Exposure/J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc./2021
川井 清司 教授 / KAWAI Kiyoshi Professor

食品や生物材料の物理的性状変化(結晶化、融解、ガラス-ラバー転移、複合体形成など)を熱分析レオロジー測定などを通じて解明し、食品の加工性、保存性、美味しさ(特に食感)、消化性などの設計に役立てる。

To improve and control food processing, preservation, and texture, thermal and rheological property changes (crystallization, melting, glass to rubber transition, and complex formation) of foods and biomaterials are investigated. For example, frozen foods, freeze-dried foods, starch and starchy foods, powders, and lactic acid bacteria are employed as the samples.

keywords:Food processing, Preservation, Texture, Thermal property, Rheological property

  1. Effect of sugar composition on the water sorption and softening properties of cookie. Food Chem, 145, 772-776: 2014. 
  2. Effect of stepwise baking without starch melting on the macroscopic structure, browning, texture, and in vitro starch digestibility of cookie. Food Sci Technol, 66: 384-389, 2016.
  3. Effect of glass transition on the hardness of a thermally compressed soup solid. J Food Eng, 247: 38-44, 2019.
三本木 至宏 教授 / SAMBONGI Yoshihiro Professor

微生物のエネルギー代謝タンパク質の構造と機能を解明し、生命が生きるための仕組みを知る。エネルギー代謝のひとつである発酵現象にも着目し、基礎的な知見を食品産業にも貢献する。

Clarifying the structure and function of proteins required for microbial energy metabolism, thereby learning the mechanism for organisms to live. Also focusing on the fermentation process as a form of energy metabolism, hoping to leverage basic findings in the food industry.

keywords:Energy metabolism protein, Fermentation

  1. Expression of two glutamate decarboxylase genes in Lactobacillus brevis. Biosci Biotech Biochem 84:1069-1072.(2020)
  2. Response of neutrophilic Shewanella violacea to acid stress: Growth rate, organic acid roduction, and gene expression. Extremophiles 23:319-326.(2019)
  3. Stability of cytochromes c' from psychrophilic and piezophilic Shewanella species: Implications for complex multiple adaptation to low temperature and high hydrostatic pressure. Extremophiles 23:239-248.(2019)
島田 昌之 教授 / SHIMADA Masayuki Professor

哺乳類の雌雄の生殖機構、特に精巣と卵巣機能の解明を分子生物学的、分子内分泌学的に行っている。そして、得られた基礎研究成果を不妊治療への応用と家畜繁殖技術開発へと展開するトランスレーショナル研究を実施している。

My special field is the reproductive biology to clear the testis and ovarian function from the viewpoints of molecular biology and molecular endocrinology. I’m doing the translational study from the basic research to be contributed for the infertility care and animal reproductive technology.

keywords:Reproductive aging, Senescent cell, Epigenetic regulation, Fibrosis, Metabolomic activity

  1. ERK1/2 in ovarian granulosa cells are critical for female fertility. Science, 324; 938-941.(2009)
  2. Activation of Toll-like receptor 7/8 encoded by the X chromosome alters sperm motility and provides a novel simple technology for sexing sperm. PLoS Biol 17:e3000398.(2019)
  3. A simple sperm-sexing method that activates TLR7/8 on X sperm for the efficient production of sexed mouse or cattle embryos. Nat Protoc15:2645-2667.(2020)
島本 整 教授 / SHIMAMOTO Tadashi Professor

食品衛生の観点から、ビブリオ属細菌など食中毒細菌の病原性関連遺伝子の解析、可動性遺伝因子を介した薬剤耐性遺伝子の細菌間伝播のメカニズム解析およびノロウイルス失活法と消毒剤の開発などの研究を行っている。

From the viewpoint of food safety, we are conducting research on the analysis of virulence-related genes of foodborne pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio spp. and the mechanism of inter-bacterial transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes via mobile genetic elements, as well as the development of norovirus inactivation methods and anti-noroviral disinfectants.

keywords:foodborne pathogenic bacteria, virulence-related genes, antimicrobial resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, norovirus

  1. Comparative molecular profiling of antimicrobial resistance and phylogenetic characterization of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from meat sources in 2009 and 2021 in Japan. Int J Food Microbiol 391-393: 110146(2023)
  2. Sequence polymorphisms in Vibrio cholerae HapR affect biofilm formation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol 88: e01044-22(2022)
  3. Antiviral effects of persimmon extract on human norovirus and its surrogate, bacteriophage MS2. J Food Sci 79: M941-M946(2014)
鈴木 卓弥 教授 / SUZUKI Takuya Professor

腸管機能の破綻が様々な慢性疾患に関わることがわかってきており、疾病予防のターゲットとして注目されている。腸管機能を調節する食品成分とその作用機序を探索し、人の健康増進に寄与する研究を行っている。

Defects in the intestinal barrier increase the penetration of luminal inflammatory molecules into the intestinal mucosa and are closely associated with both intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. Our research group investigates the roles of food factors and nutrients in regulation of intestinal barrier and inflammation and explores their therapeutic potentials.

keywords:Dietary fibers, Polyphenols, Intestinal barrier, Microbiota, Tight junction

  1. Bioactive factors secreted by Bifidobacterium breve B-3 enhance barrier function in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Benef Microbes 10: 89 (2019)
  2. Exopolysaccharides from Leuconostoc mesenteroides attenuate chronic kidney disease in mice by protecting the intestinal barrier. J Functional Foods 52: 276(2019)
  3. Dietary Fermentable Fibers Attenuate Chronic Kidney Disease in Mice by Protecting the Intestinal Barrier. J Nutr 148: 552(2018)
中江 進 教授 / NAKAE Susumu Professor

アレルギー疾患などの慢性炎症疾患に関わる遺伝子の探索、その遺伝子改編マウスの作成、および利用により、その遺伝子が疾患の発症にどのように関わるのか、個体・細胞・分子レベルでの解明に取り組んでいます。

Based on the search results for genes involved in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases such as allergy and autoimmunity, our purpose is to elucidate how those genes are involved in the development of such diseases using the mouse models.

keywords:immunology, allergy, autoimmunity, mouse disease model, cytokine

  1. IL-25 exacerbates autoimmune aortitis in IL-1 receptor antagonist-deficient mice. Sci Rep. 9:17067(2019)
  2. IL-25 enhances TH17 cell-mediated contact dermatitis by promoting IL-1β production by dermal dendritic cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 142:1500-1509(2018)
  3. An Interleukin-33-Mast Cell-Interleukin-2 Axis Suppresses Papain-Induced Allergic Inflammation by Promoting Regulatory T Cell Numbers. Immunity. 43:175-186(2015)
長沼 毅 教授 / NAGANUMA Takeshi Professor

応用環境生命科学と称して、深海・地底・火山・南極などの極限環境や一般環境の生物の特徴を調べ、その応用の方向性を研究しています。また、地球外生命の存在や人間の宇宙進出の可能性も検討しています。

The Applied Environmental Life Science Lab investigates characteristics of lives in extreme environments such as deep sea, deep subsurface, volcanoes and Antarctica as well as in non-extreme environments, and seeks their applicability directions. Possibilities of extraterrestrial lives and human habitations in outer space are also studied.

keywords:Extreme environment, Extraterrestrial life

  1. Enhanced bacterial growth and gene expression of D-amino acid dehydrogenase with D-glutamate as the sole carbon source. Front. Microbiol. 9, 2097(2018)
  2. Oligoflexus tunisiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a Gram-negative, aerobic, filamentous bacterium of a novel proteobacterial lineage, and description of Oligoflexaceae fam. nov., Oligoflexales ord. nov. and Oligoflexia classis nov. Intl. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 64, 3353-3359(2015)
  3. Phylotype diversity of deep-sea hydrothermal vent prokaryotes trapped by 0.2- and 0.1-μm-pore-size filters. Extremophiles 11, 637-646(2007)
西堀 正英 教授 / NISHIBORI Masahide Professor

ゲノムDNA情報を基に世界の家畜(ラクダ、ブタ、ニワトリ等)の起源や伝播の歴史を解き明かし、それら動物の遺伝的多様性を明らかにするとともに、メタゲノム環境DNA解析動物生態遺伝学的に解き明かす。

Our goals are to cralify the history of origin and transmission of livestock(camels, pigs, chickens, etc.)in the world based on genomic DNA information, to clarify genetic diversity of those animals, and genetically elucidate animal ecology through metagenomics and environmental DNA analysis.

keywords:genomic DNA, genetic diversity, metagenomics, environmental DNA

  1. Unveiling new perspective of phylogeography, genetic diversity, and population dynamics of Southeast Asian and Pacific chickens. Scientific Reports, 12:14609.(2022)
  2. Origin and demographic history of Philippine pigs inferred from mitochondrial DNA. Frontiers in Genetics,12:823364.(2022)
  3. Unraveling the history of the genus Gallus through whole genome sequencing. Mol Phylogenet Evol, 158:107044(2021)
西村 慎一 教授 / NISHIMURA Shinichi Professor

海洋生物微生物からユニークな生物活性を示す化合物を探索し、活性発現メカニズムを分子レベルで解明します。独自の化合物を用いたアプローチにより生命を理解し、持続可能な世界に貢献したいと考えています。

Which, how, and why metabolites control organisms? We focus on microbial metabolites with antibiotic and symbiotic activities. By unveiling molecular mechanisms underlying such activities, we would like to understand the life and contribute to the better life of the humanity.

keywords:natural product, chemical biology, antibiotics, symbiotics

  1. FK506-binding protein, FKBP12, promotes serine utilization and negatively regulates threonine deaminase in fission yeast. iScience, 25:105659(2022)
  2. Ferrichrome, a fungal-type siderophore, confers high ammonium tolerance to fission yeast. Sci. Rep. 12:17411(2022)
  3. Differential biosynthesis and roles of two ferrichrome-type siderophores, ASP2397/AS2488053 and ferricrocin, in Acremonium persicinum. ACS Chem. Biol. 17:207-216(2022)
羽倉 義雄 教授 / HAGURA Yoshio Professor

電気物性を利用した食品の製造工程の計測、食品の材料力学物性およびテクスチャーの評価、低温材料力学物性を利用した食品の機械加工(凍結粉砕による組織分離、凍結切断)に関する基礎研究と技術開発を行っている。

Both basic and applied research in the Food Engineering is conducted. Particularly, we focus on the following main topics: Measurement of the food manufacturing process using electrical properties, Measurement and evaluation of mechanical properties of foods, including texture, and Mechanical processing of food using low-temperature mechanical properties(e.g., cryo-cutting, cryo-shattering).

keywords:food manufacturing process, electrical properties, mechanical properties, texture, mechanical processing of food, low-temperature

  1. Nondestructive determination of the rheological properties of liquid food in sealed retort pouches. J. Food Process Preserv, 42: e13651.(2018)
  2. Estimation of Hardness of Cooked Rice during Retort Sterilization by Electric Impedance Measurement. Journal of The Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology, 66:469(2019)
  3. Influence of physical properties on the taste and flavor of strawberry jam. J Texture Stud, e12582.(2021)
細野 賢治 教授 / HOSONO Kenji Professor

持続的な食料資源の確保とフード・チェーンの構造について、社会経済農学の視点から研究している。フード・チェーン構造メカニズム、構成する各主体におけるマーケティング戦略を検討してきた。

I study food value chain and develop methods of securing sustainable food and resource, from the viewpoint of Socio-economic Agricultural Science. I have studied the structure and mechanism of food value chain, and developed the strategies of food marketing and rural promotion.

keywords:food value chain, food marketing, agricultural structure and mechanism, rural promotion

  1. Competitive Advantage Factors in Vertically Diversified Brand Chicken Business: A Partial Value Chain Analysis of a Japanese Poultry Wholesaler, Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly, 54: 327-333.(2020)
  2. Constructing the Value Chain for Promotion of Lemon Production in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, Agricultural Marketing Journal of Japan, 27: 46-53.(2018)
  3. Existence Conditions of Rural Community Business, Journal of Rural Economics, 91: 23-28.(2019)
堀内 浩幸 教授 / HORIUCHI Hiroyuki Professor

ニワトリ幹細胞の基礎研究を行い、ここにゲノム編集技術を融合させて様々な研究を展開しています。例えば性決定機構生殖細胞運命決定機構鳥インフルエンザの宿主応答鶏卵のアレルゲンノックアウト・バイオリアクター化など。またニワトリ抗体を認知症や慢性疾患の検知技術に活用する研究も行っています。

Basic research area: Avian stem cell biology, Avian immunobiology, Avian embryogenesis. Applied research area: Production of genetic-modified and genome editing domestic poultry. Study on elucidation of sex determination in chickens, highly pathogenic avian influenza(HPAIV), and development of useful chicken and/or mouse monoclonal antibodies(mAbs).

keywords:genome editing, sex determination, HPAIV, mAbs

  1. Prion protein signaling induces M2 macrophage polarization and protects from lethal influenza infection in mice. PLOS Pathog. 1008823(2020)
  2. An improved protocol for stable and efficient culturing of chicken primordial germ cells using small-molecule inhibitors. Cytotechnology 72:397-405(2020)
  3. Comparison of sex determination mechanism of germ cells between birds and fish: Cloning and expression analyses of chicken forkhead box L3-like gene. Dev. Dyn. 248:826-836(2019)
矢中 規之 教授 / YANAKA Noriyuki Professor

食の欧米化に伴い肥満や糖尿病などの生活習慣病が大きな社会問題となっています。これら疾病を予防する栄養素食品成分に着目し、新たな生理機能の発見、および作用メカニズムの解明を目指しています。

A number of people who have obesity, diabetes, and cancers has been increasing with westernization of meal, and it has become a big social problem. We are trying to elucidate nutrients and food factors preventing these illnesses at molecular and genetic levels by using new gene knockout mice.

keywords:food, nutrients, obesity, diabetes

  1. The serum amyloid A3 promoter-driven luciferase reporter mice is a valuable tool to image early renal fibrosis development and shows the therapeutic effect of glucosyl-hesperidin treatment. Sci. Rep. 9:14101.(2019)
  2. Serum amyloid A3 gene expression in adipocytes is an indicator of the interaction with macrophages. Sci. Rep. 6:38697.(2016)
  3. New members of the mammalian glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase family: GDE4 and GDE7 produce lysophosphatidic acid by lysophospholipase D activity. J. Biol. Chem. 290:4260-4271.(2015)
大村 尚 准教授 / OOMURA Hisashi Associate Professor

鱗翅目昆虫チョウを材料に化学生態学を研究している。産卵や交尾など特定の行動を制御する情報化学物質フェロモンアレロケミカル)の構造や機能を調べるとともに、その生態学的・進化学的意義を考察する。

Chemical ecology is the interdisciplinary research field to understand the origin, function, and significance of natural products that mediate biological interactions in ecosystem. Using butterflies, I aim to discover bioactive compounds involved in their mating, oviposition, and defense against predation, and to apply these chemicals to crop protection.

keywords:Semiochemical, Pheromone, Allelochemical, Butterfly, Plant, Bioassay, Organic Chemistry, Behavior, Chemical sense, Evolution, Speciation, Chemotaxonomy

  1. The male swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polytes, uses cuticular hydrocarbons for mate discrimination. Anim Behav 170:133-145.(2020)
  2. A cyanogenic glucoside of Trifolium repens deters oviposition by the common grass yellow Eurema mandarina. Physiol Entomol 44:222-229. (2019)
  3. The role of N,N,N-trimethylglycine in oviposition of Eurema mandarina on Albizia julibrissin. J Chem Ecol 45:371-377.(2019)
冲中 泰 准教授 / OKINAKA Yasushi Associate Professor

魚介類の増養殖において魚病による経済的損失は世界的に大きな問題である。魚病を抜本的にコントロールする方法を開発するため、その土台となる魚類病原体の宿主への感染機構の解明を分子生物学的に進めている。

Fish diseases have caused significant economic losses to the global aquaculture industry. In order to develop a method to control fish diseases drastically, we are investigating host-pathogen interactions in molecular biological aspects.

keywords:fish diseases, host-pathogen interactions

  1. Identification of RNA regions that determine temperature sensitivity in betanodaviruses. Arch. Virol. 155: 1597-1606.(2010)
  2. Comparisons among the complete genomes of four betanodavirus genotypes. Dis. Aquat. Org. 80: 113-121.(2008)
  3. Betanodavirus infection in the freshwater model fish medaka(Oryzias latipes). J. Gen. Virol. 87: 2333-2339.(2006)
国吉 久人 准教授 / KUNIYOSHI Hisato Associate Professor

クラゲの生活環における無性世代(ポリプ)から有性世代(クラゲ)への変態に興味を持ち、その分子メカニズムを解明するために、分子生物学生物有機化学の2つの手法を用いて研究を進めている。

I am interested in the metamorphosis from asexual stage(polyps)to sexual stage(jellyfish)in the life cycle of jellyfish, and I am studying the molecular mechanisms of metamorphosis in the moon jellyfish using techniques from organic chemistry and molecular biology.

keywords:jellyfish, metamorphosis, bioactive substances

  1. Molecular characterization of aspartylglucosaminidase, a lysosomal hydrolase upregulated during strobilation in the moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita./Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 81, 938-950./2017
  2. Indomethacin induction of metamorphosis from the asexual stage to sexual stage in the moon jellyfish, Aurelia aurita./Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 76, 1397-1400./2012
  3. Molecular cloning and expression profile of sex-specific genes, Figla and Dmrt1, in the protogynous hermaphroditic fish, Halichoeres poecilopterus./Zool. Sci., 29, 690-701./2012
小泉 晴比古 准教授 / KOIZUMI Haruhiko Associate Professor

電場印加水和構造制御を行うことで、生体機能の解明、及び、創薬において重要なタンパク質結晶の結晶成長制御技術を確立してきた。今後は、医薬品を含めた食品に関わる物質においても本技術を展開していきたい。

Research on the improvement in the quality of protein crystals, which is important for elucidating biological functions and drug discovery, has been performed by applying an electric field and controlling the hydration structure. In future, this technique will also be applied to materials related to food, including pharmaceuticals.

keywords:Electric field, hydration structure, Crystal growth, Crystal quality

  1. Effect of Accumulated Strain on Fat Bloom in CBS-Based Compound Chocolates. CrystEngComm 25: 4562-4567(2023)
  2. Control of Phase Separation for CBS-Based Compound Chocolates Focusing on Growth Kinetics. Cryst Growth Des 22: 6879–6885(2022)
  3. Theoretical and Practical Studies on Effects of External Electrostatic Electric Field on Nucleation and Growth Kinetics of Protein Crystals. Prog Cryst Growth Charact Mater 68: 100568(2022)
田中 若奈 准教授 / TANAKA Wakana Associate Professor

植物の花や葉、枝分かれなどの形づくりのしくみを、遺伝子の働きから解明することを目標に研究を行っています。さらには、解明したしくみを活用して、イネをはじめとする農作物の品種改良も目指しています。

I am interested in how plants elaborate their structures such as flowers and branches. My research objective is to elucidate the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the control of plant development.

keywords:Branch formation, Flower development, Meristem, Plant stem cells, Rice

  1. Antagonistic action of TILLERS ABSENT1 and FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 regulates stem cell maintenance during axillary meristem development in rice/New Phytol., 225: 974-984/2020
  2. Axillary meristem formation in rice requires the WUSCHEL ortholog TILLERS ABSENT1/Plant Cell, 27: 1173-1184/2015
  3. The YABBY gene TONGARI-BOUSHI1 is involved in lateral organ development and maintenance of meristem organization in the rice spikelet/Plant Cell, 24: 80-95/2012
長命 洋佑 准教授 / CHOMEI Yosuke Associate Professor

国内外の現場に軸足を置いた調査を通して、農業生産から食料消費に至る食と農との連携、持続可能・循環型社会、環境保全や地域貢献など新たな価値創造を図る農村・地域社会の姿、を思考する研究に従事している。

My research theme is about problems and issues from agricultural production to food consumption in agricultural and rural communities, mainly through fieldwork in Japan and overseas(China, Europe…etc.). My major specialty are agricultural management and agricultural economics. The main subjects of the survey are dairy farming and beef cattle farming.

keywords:Dairy management, Beef cattle management, Innovation, Fieldwork, Questionnaire survey

  1. 酪農経営の変化と食料・環境政策―中国内モンゴル自治区を対象として/養賢堂/2017
  2. 稲作法人経営における多角化戦略と経営革新/農林業問題研究/2018
  3. 牛肉の購買行動における消費者意識構造の把握―共分散構造分析を用いた解析―/農林業問題研究/2016
中山 達哉 准教授 / NAKAYAMA Tatsuya Associate Professor

微生物を理解することで食の安全を守ることを理念に、食中毒菌薬剤耐性菌および微生物細菌叢の3本柱を中心に研究を行っている。研究は民間企業、国内外の大学、国立および地方衛生研究所と幅広いネットワークを活用し進めている。

Our aim is to contribute to food safety by acquiring scientific knowledge of bacteria. Research is promoted through an extensive network of national and international universities and research institutions in three research topics: foodborne pathogens, bacterial resistance and microbiota.

keywords:Food Microbiology, Food Hygiene, Food poisoning bacteria, Antibiotic resistant bacteria, Mirobiota

  1. Abundance of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli harbouring mcr-1 and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli co-harbouring blaCTX-M-55 or -65 with blaTEM isolates from chicken meat in Vietnam, Arch Microbiol, 204, pp. 137(2022)
  2. Isolation of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae harbouring NDM-1, 4, 5, OXA48 and KPC from river fish in Vietnam, Food Control, pp.108594(2022)
  3. Long-term grow-out affects Campylobacter jejuni colonization fitness in coincidence with altered microbiota and lipid composition in the cecum of laying hens, Front Vet Sci, pp.675570(2021)
船戸 耕一 准教授 / FUNATO Kouichi Associate Professor

脂質脂質修飾タンパク質の細胞内局在を決定する輸送機序と細胞機能における役割を遺伝子レベルで解明するために研究を行っている。また、宿主として酵母を用いた脂質の大量生産を目指した応用研究も展開している。

We are investigating the transport mechanisms that determine the subcellular localization of lipids and lipid-modified proteins, and their roles in cellular functions at the molecular-genetic level. We are also developing applied researches for mass production of lipids using yeast as a host.

keywords:lipid, lipid-modified protein, transport, cellular function, genetics, yeast, metabolic engineering

  1. Quality-controlled ceramide-based GPI-anchored protein sorting into selective ER exit sites. Cell Rep., 39:110768(2022)
  2. Producing human ceramide-NS by metabolic engineering using yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sci. Rep., 5:16319(2015)
  3. Vesicular and nonvesicular transport of ceramide from ER to the Golgi apparatus in yeast. J. Cell Biol., 155:949(2001)
KUMRUNGSEE Thanutchaporn 准教授 / Associate Professor

My research interests are in elucidation of food factors with potent preventive effects on lifestyle-related diseases and their mechanisms. Currently, I am interested in exploring roles of imidazole dipeptides in muscle regeneration and brain functions as well as focusing on regulation of GABA metabolism to prevent obesity.

keywords:skeletal muscle, muscle stem cells(satellite cells), muscle regeneration, functional foods, bioactive compounds, carnosine/Homocarnosine, obesity, GABA, vitamin B6

  1. Dietary GABA and its combination with vigabatrin mimic calorie restriction and induce antiobesity-like effects in lean mice. Journal of Functional Foods 78:104367.(2021)
  2. Dietary GABA induces endogenous synthesis of a novel imidazole peptide homocarnosine in mouse skeletal muscles. Amino Acids 52:743–753.(2020)
  3. Novel metabolic disturbances in marginal vitamin B 6 -deficient rat heart. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 65:26–34.(2019)
平山 真 講師 / HIRAYAMA Makoto Associate Professor or Lecturer

藻類由来の糖結合性タンパク質レクチン」が有するユニークな糖鎖認識の分子基盤を解明し、医薬品(抗がん抗ウイルスなど)、生化学試薬(糖鎖・細胞識別、腫瘍マーカー検出)、健康食品素材として開発するための研究。

Research to elucidate the molecular basis of the unique glycan recognition of sugar-binding proteins "lectins" from algae and to develop them as pharmaceuticals(anticancer, antiviral, etc.), biochemical reagents (glycan/cell identification, tumor marker detection), and health food materials.

keywords:Lectin, alga, glycan, anticancer, antiviral, tumor marker, health food

  1. A novel high-mannose specific lectin from the green alga Halimeda renschii exhibits a potent anti-influenza virus activity through high-affinity binding to the viral hemagglutinin. Mar Drugs 15: 255.(2017)
  2. High-mannose specific lectin and its recombinants from a carrageenophyta Kappaphycus alvarezii represent a potent anti-HIV activity through high-affinity binding to the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120. Mar Biotechnol 18: 144-160.(2016)
  3. High mannose-binding lectin with preference for the cluster of α1–2-mannose from the green alga Boodlea coacta Is a potent entry inhibitor of HIV-1 and Influenza viruses. J Biol Chem 286: 19446-19458.(2011)
藤川 愉吉 講師 / FUJIKAWA Yukichi Associate Professor or Lecturer

農作物は環境ストレスによって生産ポテンシャルを十分に発揮できていない。そこで植物のストレスに関わる酵素・蛋白質の発現と機能に関する生化学的研究を行っている。

Plants have to compromise their yield potential for their tolerance towards environmental stress. To develop stress-tolerant/resistant plants with the level of their yield potential maintained or improved, we are conducting biochemical research on the expression and function of enzymes and proteins involved in plant stress.

keywords:biochemical research, environmental stress, enzymes, plant

  1. Split luciferase complementation assay to detect regulated protein-protein interactions in rice protoplasts in a large-scale format./Rice/2014
  2. Luminescence dvetection of SNARE–SNARE interaction in Arabidopsis protoplasts/Plant Mol. Biol./2010
  3. Split luciferase complementation assay to study protein-protein interactions in Arabidopsis protoplasts/Plant J./2007
生谷 尚士 助教 / IKUTANI Masashi Assistant Professor

アレルギー疾患などの発症の初期段階に関与する細胞の研究を通じて発症メカニズムの解明に取り組んでいる。ILC2や好酸球などの免疫細胞、IL-5IL-33などのサイトカインを中心に研究している。

Our research team conducts research on immune cells, which are involved in allergic diseases including asthma and atopic dermatitis. To explore the causes of these immune-related diseases, we study dynamics of particular immune cells, such as ILC2 and eosinophil, as well as cytokines that regulate these cells.

keywords:Allergy, ILC2, Eosinophil, Cytokine

  1. Elimination of eosinophils using anti-IL-5 receptor alpha antibodies effectively suppresses IL-33-mediated pulmonary arterial hypertrophy, Immunobiology, 223, 486-492(2018)
  2. Prolonged activation of IL-5-producing ILC2 causes pulmonary arterial hypertrophy, JCI Insight, 2, e90721(2017)
  3. Identification of Innate IL-5-Producing Cells and Their Role in Lung Eosinophil Regulation and Antitumor Immunity, J Immunol, 188, 703-713 (2012)
池田 敦子 助教 / IKEDA Atsuko Assistant Professor

セラミドは細胞の生命活動をコントロールする重要な脂質です。細胞内のさまざまなオルガネラ間を介したセラミドホメオスタシスの仕組み(合成・輸送・代謝)について、分子レベルで解明することを目指しています。

Ceramide is the essential lipid that controls cellular functions. My research interests are the molecular mechanisms of ceramide homeostasis(synthesis, transport, and metabolism)via the various intracellular organelles.

keywords:ceramide, lipid transport, membrane contact site, yeast

  1. Tricalbins Are Required for Non-vesicular Ceramide Transport at ER-Golgi Contacts and Modulate Lipid Droplet Biogenesis. iScience, 23:101603(2020)
  2. Membrane Contact Sites in Yeast: Control Hubs of Sphingolipid Homeostasis. Membranes, 11:971(2021)
  3. Osh proteins regulate COPII-mediated vesicular transport of ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum in budding yeast. J Cell Sci., 127:376-87(2014)
冨永 淳 助教 / TOMINAGA Jun Assistant Professor

分子から群落のスケールで光合成を理解して、作物生産の向上を目指します。作物の種類は問わず、植物工場からフィールドまで様々な栽培環境を対象とします。興味のある方は気軽にお話しましょう!

If you are interested in the smart crop production, this is the right place! My lab focuses on photosynthesis for improved crop management and productivity, though I am very interested in the biology of photosynthesis. I also try to address questions involving the climate change, stress physiology, and sustainable agriculture.

keywords:Photosynthesis, Gas exchange, Phenomics, Physiological ecology of land plants/crops

  1. Overexpression of BUNDLE SHEATH DEFECTIVE 2 improves the efficiency of photosynthesis and growth in Arabidopsis. Plant J 102: 129-137.(2020)
  2. Direct measurement of intercellular CO2 concentration in a gas-exchange system resolves overestimation using the standard method. J Exp Bot 69: 1981-1991.(2018)
  3. Cuticle affects calculations of internal CO2 in leaves closing their stomata. Plant Cell Physiol 56: 1900-1908.(2015)
藤井 創太郎 助教 / FUJII Sotaro Assistant Professor

一酸化窒素NO)は生体内でシグナル分子として機能する良い面がある一方、細胞毒性を有する悪い面もある。当研究室では、微生物NOを巧みに扱う仕組みに関する研究をしている。
Nitric oxide(NO)has a positive side that functions as a signaling molecule in vivo, but it also has a negative side that is cytotoxic. In our laboratory, we are studying how microorganisms cope with and handle NO.

keywords:Microorganism, Nitrigen cycle, heme protein

  1. Structural and functional insights into thermally stable cytochrome c' from a thermophile. Protein Sci 26:737-748.(2017)
松崎 芽衣 助教 / MATSUZAKI Mei Assistant Professor

鳥類におけるゲノム編集を利用した遺伝子改変技術の開発、および医薬品・食品産業への応用を目指す。また、鳥類の生殖システムの分子メカニズムを明らかにし、これを基盤とした家禽の繁殖技術開発を行う。

Our goal is to develop genetic modification technology using genome editing in birds, and to apply it to the pharmaceutical and food industries. In addition, we focus on the molecular mechanisms of avian reproductive systems and the development of reproductive technologies based on these mechanisms in poultry.

keywords:genome-editing, avian reproduction

  1. Lactic acid is a sperm motility inactivation factor in the sperm storage tubules/Sci. Rep.(2015)
  2. Longer and faster sperm exhibit better fertilization success in Japanese quail/Poult. Sci.(2021)
  3. Effect of sperm surface oligosaccharides in sperm passage into sperm storage tubules in Japanese quail(Coturnix japonica), Anim. Rep. Sci.(2021)
山本 祥也 助教 / YAMAMOTO Yoshinari Assistant Professor

食品微生物による免疫調節作用を探索し、その機能性を活かして感染症や炎症性疾患、アレルギーを予防・軽減する機能性食品の開発を目指しています。

The purpose of our research is to explore the immunomodulatory effects of foods and microorganisms, and then to utilize their function to develp functional foods that prevent and reduce some diseases such as infectious, inflammatory and allergic diseases.

keywords:Food immunology, Microorganism, Functional food, Mice, Cell culture, Oral administration

  1. Class A CpG Oligonucleotide Priming Rescues Mice from Septic Sock via Activation of Platelet-Activating Factor Acetylhydrolase. Front Immunol.(2017)
  2. Oral Administration o Flavonifractor plautii Strongly Suppresses Th2 Immune Responses in Mice. Front Immunol.(2020)
  3. Inhibitory/Suppressive Oligodeoxynucleotide Nanocapsules as Simple Oral Delivery Devices for Preventing Atopic Dermatitis in Mice. Mol Ther.(2015)
奥田 将生 客員教授 / OKUDA Masaki Visiting Professor

美味しいお酒日本酒焼酎)を造るために重要な原料のお米について着目しています。イネの栽培時の気象条件がお酒の製造工程に及ぼす影響やお酒の品質に影響を及ぼす原料成分を研究しています。

Our research focus is the understanding of the properties of the ingredient rice grains and water for sake making to make high quality of sake and shochu. We are investigating the influences of the meteorological conditions during rice growing on sake making process, and the compounds affecting sake quality.

keywords:sake, shochu, rice, water, meteorological condition

  1. Rice used for Japanese sake making, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 83,1428-1441(2019)
  2. Relationship between sake making properties of rice grains and meteorological data. J.Brew.Soc., 104:699-711(2009)in Japanese
  3. Structural and retrogradation properties of rice endosperm starch affect enzyme digestibility of steamed milled-rice grains used in sake production. Cereal Chemistry, 83: 143-151(2006)
正木 和夫 客員准教授 / MASAKI Kazuo Visiting Associate Professor

醸造に関わる微生物(酵母麹菌)の機能解明、育種、醸造環境で働く酵素の研究をしています。また、微生物由来の酵素の機能を明らかとし、新しい利用方法や大量生産する技術についても研究しています。

I am studying microbiology(yeast and koji-mold)for the brewing. In particular, the main targets are elucidation of functions, breeding, and enzymatic research. I am also interested in exploring new enzymes, developing new uses, and mass-producing enzymes. 

keywords:enzyme, yeast, koji-mold, brewing microbiology

  1.  Aspergillus oryzae acetamidase catalyzes degradation of ethyl carbamate, J Biosci Bioeng,130, 577(2020)
  2. Construction of a new recombinant protein expression system in the basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus sp strain S-2 and enhancement of the production of a cutinase-like enzyme, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 93, 1627(2012)
  3. Cutinase-like enzyme from the yeast Cryptococcus sp strain S-2 hydrolyzes polylactic acid and other biodegradable plastics, Appl Environ Microbiol, 71, 7548(2005)


up