Powering the Future - 立命館大学

Ritsumeikan University College of Life Sciences
Research/Development Areas
Microbial Consortia (Biofilms), a Key Factor
for Resource Recycling in Nature
Professor / Hisao MORISAKI, Assistant Professor / Makoto IKENAGA
Numerous numbers and species of microorganisms interact
with each other in the environment. These microorganisms play
an important role in maintaining the natural environment. Our
laboratory objective is to study the microorganisms in the natural
environment from an ecological point of view, such as in
maintaining and improving natural environments based on the
understanding of microbial functions and the relations between
microorganisms found in the natural environment. Many microorganisms
attach to solid surfaces in the natural environment.
We therefore have studied the attachment mechanism of the
microorganisms by analyzing the surface properties of environmental
microbial cells as well as the surfaces in the natural environments.
We have also investigated a microbial consortia (biofilm)
consisting of various kinds of microorganisms interacting
with each other from
the aspect of structure,
composition and microbial
functions in the environment.
Research/Development Areas
Development of Electrochemical
Techniques for Trace Measurements and
DNA Recognition
Professor / Haruki SHIRAISHI
This laboratory is developing new electrochemical sensors to
transduce chemical reactions and physical phenomena and
thus provide novel functions to conventional sensors. For
example, DNA modified electrodes can detect DNA sequences
and determine trace medicines in bio-samples. We are also
studying the electrochemical characteristics of ultra microelectrodes
fabricated by means of micro machining techniques
and diamond electrodes. These electrodes are expected to be
a highly sensitive sensor material because of their S/N ratio
advantage. Platinum micro stripe electrodes are shown in the
pictures.
■A schematic drawing of biofilm structure and
composition
■AFM images of the stripe electrodes
Research/Development Areas
Enzymatic Synthesis of Useful Materials,
Development of Fermentation Technology
and its Understanding and Regulation in
the Molecular Level
Professor / Mamoru WAKAYAMA, Assistant Professor / Shigekazu YANO
All organisms incorporate enzymes that are very important biopolymers
which catalyze and control biological metabolic reactions.
And as many as there are diverse organisms in the world
there are enzymes with diverse properties. The Laboratory of
Enzyme Technology is searching for enzymes with excellent
functions from the diversity of enzymes and developing methods
of synthesizing useful substances such as raw materials for
use in drugs and chemicals used in food additives etc directly
utilizing them. We are also devoting our efforts in studying the
development of new types of foods and the production of useful
substances for use in drugs etc through fermentation, where
the power of microorganisms is utilized, and attempting to understand
and control the fermentation process at the molecular
level. Studies of great interest include an enzyme production
method of the D-amino acids that are important raw materials
for drugs utilizing enzymes, the production of “Lactsho,” a new
fermented liquid preparation, the development of asparaginase,
a food additive enzyme
that has a acrylamide
generation suppression,
and studying the structure
and functions of an enzyme
for use in synthesizing
“L-theanine,” a tastiness
substance.
■3D Structure of γ-Glutamyltransferase
51 Ritsumeikan University Powering the Future