History

History of the Laboratory of Environmental Biochemistry

The Biotechnology Research Center was originally founded in 1993 in order to initiate and enhance biotechnological research in the fields of microbiology and structural biology with the aim to solve environmental problem, and have performed many excellent pioneering works although the center consisted of only two laboratories. According to suggestion by the Evaluation Committee of the original center that was held in December 2000, the present Biotechnology Research Center was reorganized with three laboratories in 2003 to further promote biotechnological research for the solution of problems such as environmental pollution and the shortage of food production in the 21st century. In addition, new methodology introduced for the above biotechnological research has been applied to production of useful compounds, such as fine chemicals and medicines.

Laboratory of Environmental Biochemistry of the present center is established in April 2003 based on the Laboratory of Biotechnology run by Professor Toshio Omori of the original center. The Laboratory was run by Professor Hisakazu Yamane (April 2003 to March 2012), with Associate Professor Hideaki Nojiri (April 2003 to present), and Assistant Professors Hiroshi Habe (April 2003 to March 2006) and Kazunori Okada (August 2003 to present). After retirement of Professor Yamane, the present Laboratory is run by Associate Professor Hideaki Nojiri with Assistant Professor Kazunori Okada. Research has been undertaken by post-doctoral fellows, Ph.D. and M.Sc. students and undergraduates.

Major subjects of the Laboratory of Environmental Biochemistry are:

  • (1) Function of degradative plasmid in cell system and environment.
  • (2) Structures of functions of xenobiotic-degrading enzymes.
  • (3) Signal transduction pathways of elicitors regulating plant defense responses.
  • (4) Regulatory mechanisms for terpenoid biosynthesis in higher plants and its application.

The research subjects on Bacterial interesting function are directed mainly by Associate Professor Hideaki Nojiri. The plant research (3) and (4) has been directed mainly by Assistant Professor Kazunori Okada.