Unraveling the Metabolic Systems of Living Organisms
Understanding Biological Metabolism at the Molecular Level
Within living organisms, essential substances for life—such as energy, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids—are continuously synthesized and broken down by enzymes, maintaining them at precisely the necessary levels. We aim to understand the intricate metabolic mechanisms and concentration control systems of living organisms at the molecular level by studying structure-function relationships using purified enzymes and analyzing enzyme gene knockout strains.
Reverse Genetics in Medaka and Glycomics:
Unraveling Glycan Function
Utilizing reverse genetics, we are developing a comprehensive collection of genetically modified medaka fish bearing mutations in a series of glycan metabolism enzyme genes. This innovative research approach clarifies glycan function at the organismal level by correlating the phenotypes of these medaka with glycan structures identified through glycomics analysis. Through this method, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms underlying diseases caused by genetic mutations in glycan metabolism enzymes, including hereditary disorders.
Plants Enhance the Ability to Absorb Nitrate Ions
Nitrogen is one of the fundamental elements essential for biological growth. Plants predominantly assimilate nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrate ions, which they convert into nitrite ions and ammonium ions prior to incorporation into amino acids. Our research aims to elucidate the relationship between the structure and function of nitrate and nitrite ion membrane transporters involved in this process, with the objective of developing high-performance membrane transporters.