〓 Research Area : Chemistry of Bioactive Compounds
Aiming for use in medicine and agrochemicals, we are conducting
1: Search for natural bioactive compounds (highly functional compounds)
2: Research on biocatalyst-mediated conversion of low-functional substances.

Search and use of new enzymes effective for production of useful substances(1) We can synthesize various dehydrogenated cyclic dipeptides by using the novel cyclic dipeptideoxidase that we found in actinomycetes. We are investigating various properties of this unique
enzyme and conducting applied research on highly sensitive
detection of cyclic dipeptide and production of dehydrogenatedcyclic dipeptide using this enzyme.
(2) We are preparing new antioxidant active substances by enzymatic conversion from olive secondary metabolites, and are
studying their usage.
(3) We are conducting a detailed study of microbial enzymes
that show characteristic transglycosylation activity.
(4) We are studying methods for treating woody biomass with

Search for chitinolytic enzyme inhibitors and analysisof their bioactivity〓 Prof.
KANZAKI Hiroshi〓 Prof.
NITODA Teruhiko

The epidermis of insects and the cell wall of filamentous fungi contain the polysaccharide chitin. Since themetabolism of chitin is essential for the growth of insects andfilamentous fungi, the enzymes responsible for the metabolismof chitinase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase are expected to be
applied to pest control agents and antibacterial agents. We haveconducted research to find inhibitors of these enzymes in microbial metabolites. We have discovered two novel β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (GlcNAcase) inhibitors with distinct specificity.
We are trying to elucidate the molecular basis of their inhibitoryspecificity and to search further novel GlcNAcase inhibitors.

〓 Research Area : Functional Glycobiochemistry

Functional analysis of oligosaccharides involved inplant differentiation, growth, and fruit maturation
In developing hypocotyls, seeds, and fruits at the maturing stage, free N-glycans (FNG) released from glycoproteins or glycopeptides occur at micro molar concentration. We analyze (1) the biofunctions of FNs involvedin plant differentiation, growth, and fruit maturation, (2)chaperon-like functions involved in the protein-foldingor -refolding mechanism. Based on the unraveled of thebiofunctions of FNGs, we aim to establish a new plantbiotechnology to control plant differentiation, growth,and fruit-maturation through artificial regulation of theexpression of glycogenes (glycosidases, glycosyltrasferases, and glycan-liberating enzymes).

Analysis of in vivo / in vitro functions of free N-glycans (FNGs)
responsible for correct protein folding and refolding〓 Prof.
KIMURA Yoshinobu

In plant and animal cells or tissues, the liberated asparagine-linked glycans (free N-glycans, FNG) ubiquitously occur. Recently we have found that theseFNGs induce the correct protein folding or refoldingof denatured or misfolded proteins at millimolar concentration. We analyze the chaperon-like activity ofFNGs involved in the protein quality control system
working in eukaryotic cells using biochemical andphysiochemical strategies. We aim to establish a newconcept of glycan function responsible for correct
protein folding and apply the chaperon-like function
to the development of glycol-reagents stimulating thecorrect construction of protein 3D structures.

Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University45