OCARINA Communication 3

OCARINA通信
The OCU Advanced Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

̶Special Project̶Celebrating the establishment of the Research Center of Artiﬁcial
Photosynthesis (ReCAP)

Discussion by the members of the executive committee hosting the
Asia BioHyLink (ABHL)/International Conference on Bio/Mimetic
Solar Energy Conversion (iSec)organizing committee
̶Topics̶
COI-T Project Leader Eiji Yamashita (Fuji Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.)“Towards making the next-generation hydrogen energy society a reality”

COI-T Research Leader, Prof. Nobuo Kamiya“Regarding the commencement of the COI-T project”

̶Research Introductions̶Prof. Amao Yutaka“The necessity of catalysts for the realization of new fuel production
techniques in artiﬁcial photosynthesis”

Associate Prof. Ritsuko Fujii“Artiﬁcial photosynthesis and the mechanism of light collection inphotosynthesis”
Specially Appointed Tenure-track Associate Prof. Eriko Nakadai“Discovery of a neurite removal mechanism in nematodes”
Specially Appointed Tenure-track Lecturer Takaaki Asou

“Fabrication of artiﬁcial muscles and organs by nano-surgery of hydrogels”
̶Activity Information̶
OCARINA Seminar2013 Osaka City University Advanced Research Institute (OCARINA) annual international meeting
Asia BioHyLink (ABHL) /International conference on Bio/Mimetic Solar Energy Conversion (iSec)
Trends in external funding

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

Vol.3

OCARINA Communication 3■ Special Project

Celebrating the establishment of ReCAP

Discussion by the members of the executive committee hosting
the Asia BioHyLink (ABHL)/International Conference on Bio/
Mimetic Solar Energy Conversion (iSec)

1

Dr. KINOSHITA ／ Five months have passed since the Artificial
Photosynthesis Research Center was opened on June 18, 2013.
Before full activities begin, thanks to Dr. Miyake’s contributions,
we have been able to hold an international conference at OCU tocelebrate the opening of the Artificial Photosynthesis ResearchCenter. We are holding this discussion during the international
conference, which is ongoing successfully. In this discussion,
we would like to ask you to discuss the background that led
to organizing this international conference and the future
management of the Artificial Photosynthesis Research Center.
This discussion is being held with the main speaker and the
director of the Artificial Photosynthesis Research Center, Dr.
Kamiya. Welcome, Dr. Kamiya.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ As the parent organization of the Artificial
Photosynthesis Research Center, the OCU Advanced ResearchInstitute for Natural Science and Technology has studied
photosynthesis and artificial photosynthesis for some time.
The new research center will initiate applied research inphotosynthesis as a part of a university–industry collaboration
aimed at putting this science to practical use.
In cooperation with the conference of the Asia BioHyLink(ABHL), we are holding this meeting to introduce our activities.
I’ve just started to study the field of biohydrogen because it isoutside my area of expertise. From listening to the discussionof ecology from the viewpoint of a small community, it is myimpression that biohydrogen is nearly ready for practical use.
Based on the work of many Asian presenters at the conference,
I think that there is a high level of activity in this field,
because Asia appears to be in a suitable environment to study
photosynthesis. I hope that our discussion today makes the pointthat the realization of a hydrogen-based society is an immediategoal at each base.

Dr. MIYAKE ／ Thank you.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ Is this biohydrogen conference the tenthmeeting?
Dr. MIYAKE ／ It is the eighth.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ Oh, it is the eighth. While listening, I thought that’s quite an accomplishment.
Dr. MIYAKE ／ Thank you. As expected, the level of biomass
production in Asia is exceptionally higher than that in otherregions, so naturally, this topic is relevant to be dealt with here.
Dr. KINOSHITA ／ From listening to your stories today, I wonderthat biomass production might compete with biohydrogen.
Dr. MIYAKE ／ Rather than competition, there is potential
synergy. In other words, the issue is what kind of energy we usefrom biomass: biomass itself, hydrogen, or even methane, where
there would be no distinction.
Hydrogen can be considered as an advanced chemical
substance. I believe that future issues will be addressed with asystem appropriate for the time.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ Recently, the term exit strategy has been
mentioned frequently. Ultimately, can the exit strategy for a small
biohydrogen community be some type of control center thatis surrounded by various institutions emitting hydrogen frombiomass or from waste?
When thinking about artificial photosynthesis, the desert isone of the targets. I understand that the exit strategy is moving

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

OCARINA Communication 3

profileProfessor, Graduate School of Engineering Science,Osaka University

Jun Miyake
profileProfessor of OCARINA

Nobuo Kamiya
Visiting researcher at the High Energy Physics
Laboratory/Synchrotron Radiation Experiment Institution,
vice principal investigator at RIKEN, and chief of the
Research Technique Development Section at RIKEN,Harima Branch (large-scale synchrotron radiation facility,
SPring-8). In 2005, he became a professor at the Osaka
City University Graduate School of Science. Since
2010, he has been a full-time professor at the Advanced
Research Institute.

in the opposite direction, against producing fuels in very large
institutions in a very extensive area. Is it correct?
Dr. MIYAKE ／ ‑In fact, there are two entirely different
approaches. As examples of the first approach, there are projects
targeting the desert, as you’ve just said, and another project
being conducted in Brazil to handle a large quantity of biomass toderive ethanol. The second approach is the strategy to use a small
amount of biomass that is produced daily in small communities. It
is interesting that these approaches are very different but coexist.
Basically, in photosynthesis, it is an effort to get an enthalpy-likegain. However, when it is scaled up, it will be too costly to collectbiomass as a product. The use of biomass, which is spontaneously
collected in daily life, leads to entropy control.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ Yes, I think so.
Dr. MIYAKE ／ Therefore, the goal of the small system is toestablish a project inside a community-sized area where biomass
is generated spontaneously. By focusing the technology on
entropy instead of enthalpy, we expect that innovations will
establish a new approach.
Dr. KINOSHITA ／ Dr. Okura, how do you think that our OCU canbe involved in this biohydrogen scenario?
Dr. OKURA ／ I am also interested in biohydrogen production.
I’ve studied hydrogenase as a catalyst for hydrogen production.
Hydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrogenproduction in water by electron transferring from a suitable
donor to a proton. The enzyme can produce hydrogen if it has anelectron source. For example, green plants split water producing
oxygen during photosynthesis, which means they require
reducing power and the produced electrons are transported toCalvin cycle via electron carriers.
If the electrons are donated to hydrogenase by the extraction
from the electron carriers, hydrogen will be produced.
Thereby complete splitting of water is accomplished. Water
can be completely splitted when a hydrogenase system andphotosynthesis are combined. However, the hydrogenase isCompleted Doctor’s Course at Osaka University, School of
Science in 1980
Doctor of Science. Having worked as chief researcher at the
National Institute for Advanced Disciplinary Research, theAgency of Industrial Science and Technology, and the Ministry ofInternational Trade and Industry, Doctor Miyake held successive
positions as director of the Tissue Engineering Research Centerand director of the Cell Engineering Research Division at the
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology(formerly, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology). He
took up his current post in April 2009. Since then, he has held
additional posts including Visiting Professor at the School ofEngineering, Tokyo University, Guest Professor at the Institute for
Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, and Guest Professor
for the Course of Advanced Medicine, School of Medicine, Osaka
University.
Research: Doctor Miyake has won many awards for his work inareas that include regenerative medicine using stem cells, medical/
biofunction support robot technology, and bioenergy. These awards
include the Director of the Science and Technology Agency’s Award, the Minister of International Trade and Industry’s Award,
and the Akira Mitsui-Memorial Award presented by the International Association of Hydrogen Energy. From 2005 to 2010, he
was the Operating Agent of Annex 21 of the International Energy Agency’s Hydrogen Implementing Agreement. His interests
include cycling and modern art.

deactivated if hydrogen and oxygen are produced concurrently.
Therefore, the systems should be separated in order for theprocess to function.
As the earth atmosphere is oxidative, containing a lot of
oxygen, photosynthetic organisms requires a reducing power. By
contrast, in earliest times when the earth was covered by reducing
atmosphere, microorganisms required oxidizing power rather
than reducing power. Such organisms contained hydrogenase to
produce reducing agents such as hydrogen. Therefore, hydrogencan be produced by utilizing such a system. Complete splittingof water seems to be preferable, and it is much easier to producehydrogen if we can use another electron donor.
We are interested not only in hydrogen but also in otherbiofuels such as methanol, producing from CO2 or methane.
If hydrogen is available, methane bacterium can be used
to produce methane by CO2 reduction with hydrogen. Whenmethane is produced, methane is converted to methanol
catalyzed by methane monooxygenase, an enzyme contained bymethanotrophs. Methanotrophs are microorganisms cultivated bymethane as the only carbon source. When methanotrophs treatedwith cyclopropanol methanol production is observed becauseof the deactivation of alcohol dehydrogenase. Methane is easily
converted to dimethyl ether which would be more suitable forpractical use, because it can be mixed with gasoline.
Dr. KINOSHITA ／ We have good news for the OCU Advanced
Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology this year,
two professors have joined us since April. Dr. Amao researches
on sustainable methanol production, and Dr. Fujii researches on
various related projects. Dr. Amao and Dr. Fujii, could you pleasetell us your opinion on the theme?
Dr. AMAO ／ Originally, I studied the production of methanolfrom CO2 using light energy because, as Mr. Okura mentioned,
this field has not received much attention. I focus on producing
methanol by reducing CO2 with a hydrogen ion and an electron
without using hydrogen gas. While dimethyl ether may be fineas the final product, I think that it is necessary to promote thepotential of methanol as a fuel a little more.
For example, an American racing car has a speed potential

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

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OCARINA Communication 3■ Special Project
profileSpecially-Appointed Professor, OCARINA

Ichiro Okura

After becoming a doctoral research fellow at
Princeton University, Doctor Okura became an
assistant at the Institute of Technology, Tokyo
Institute of Technology in 1974. He then held theposts of assistant professor and professor at thesame university in 1988. He founded the Schoolof Bioscience and Biotechnology in 1990, and has
served as a professor there. He has also served asa Councilor of the Tokyo Institute of Technology,
Dean of the Graduate School of Bioscience andTechnology, Dean of the School of Bioscienceand Technology, and member of the Management
Committee. Since 2007, he has served as Vice
President for Planning. He became Professor
Emeritus of the Tokyo Institute of Technology
in 2011. He has served as Specially-Appointed
Professor at Osaka City University since July 2013.

3

as high as that of a Formula 1 car if it uses fuel containing 90%
or more methanol. Therefore, I believe we must continue toemphasize the importance of methanol as a product of artificial
photosynthesis.
As shown in the road map for the Artificial Photosynthesis
Research Center, we believe that artificial photosynthetic
production of methanol fuel can become practical by 2030.
Currently, my technology is the only technology capable ofproducing methanol from carbon dioxide using light energy.
I enthusiastically want to proceed with this study to identify
practical applications.
I’ve also studied hydrogen production for a long time with
Dr. Miyake. Regarding biohydrogen, to produce oxygen andhydrogen by splitting water is very attractive, but it is fraught
with various difficulties associated with organic dye moleculesthat facilitate the use of light energy. However, if biomass such as
starch and cellulose can be used as the reducing agent, hydrogenproduction might be accomplished without using organic dye
molecules.
Dr. Miyake and I often talk about not only the production ofhydrogen but also its utilization, such as using hydrogen directlyin fuel cells to generate electricity.
Dr. FUJII ／ I’ve studied physical chemistry and used
spectroscopy to study the mechanism by which antennae collect
light in natural photosynthesis. Natural photosynthetic organisms
drive photosynthesis by collecting sunlight with extremely low
luminous flux density and channeling it to the photoreaction
center. This mechanism to harvest light is highly ingenious and is
not fully understood.
With the goal to understand how to link such a mechanism to
artificial photosynthesis, I’m committed to the ABHL and the first
International Conference on Bio/Mimetic Solar Energy Conversion(iSEC). Previously, I focused on fundamental research, and I feltthat this had limited scope. Going forward, I intend to apply abroad vision to seek solutions to energy problems by examining
the current situation and asking what energy “substitutes” exist
and to what extent alternative energy can provide solutions. I
initiated my research with the basic studies, with which I am
familiar. I plan to search for paths to link my research results

profileProfessor, OCARINA

Yutaka Amao
Completed a doctorate in Engineering at the Graduate
School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Instituteof Technology in March 1997. He was a researcher at
the Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology
Foundation and the National Aerospace Laboratoryof Japan (now JAXA). In addition, he was a lecturer,
assistant professor, then became an associate professor
at the Faculty of Engineering, Oita University, and is a
professor at the Advanced Research Institute since April
2013. He is also a pioneering researcher at the Japan
Science and Technology Agency since April 2010.

to societal needs, such as energy problems. Going forward, I’mcommitted to studying these issues. I’m looking forward to doing
business with you.
Dr. KINOSHITA ／ Dr. Matsuoka, thank you for joining us today.
In this international conference, we ask you not only to be acommittee member but also to deliver an invited lecture. We
would like to have your opinion on this theme.
Dr. MATSUOKA ／ Thank you. My name is Matsuoka. I workat Osaka Prefecture University. This is the first time I am
participating in this conference. I have worked in cooperation
with Professor Anpo to study solar energy conversion to chemicalenergy using inorganic oxide-based photocatalysts. The numberof researchers, particularly in Asia, who study photocatalysis
has been increasing. The use of light energy and photocatalysts
to produce hydrogen from water is under active investigation.
However, the mainstream method is still based on using
powdered photocatalysts to split water to produce hydrogen andoxygen. In order to use hydrogen from such a reaction system,
the method of separating the produced hydrogen and oxygen isimportant. When a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide is used,
only ultraviolet radiation can be used. It is also important todevelop photocatalysts that respond to visible light by using theband engineering technique.
In our laboratory, we produce titanium oxide thin film thatcan respond to visible light by modifying the oxidation stateof titanium oxide with a sputtering technique. The material isincorporated into electrochemical reaction cells that enable theseparate evolution of hydrogen and oxygen from water. The
primary difficulty in our previous studies of water splitting was
triggering an oxygen generation reaction involving the transfer offour electrons. If a natural enzyme or an oxidation catalyst used inphotosynthesis can be used as co-catalyst for oxygen production
from water splitting, studies might broaden in scope and activity
might increase dramatically. I hope that our study will have suchan effect.
Furthermore, in the field of biohydrogen, the source of the
reducing agent is important. However, the OCU has a plantfactory. I think it would be a good idea to produce a hydrogen

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OCARINA Communication 3

profileprofileAssociate professor, OCARINA

Ritsuko Fujii

Completed a doctorate in science at the Graduate Schoolof Science, Kwansei Gakuin University in March 2001.
She was a specially appointed researcher of the Japan
Society for the Promotion of Science (PD) and held
successive research positions at the Graduate School of
Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, andthe Osaka City University Research Center for Industry
Innovation, before being specially appointed as associate
professor to the Advanced Research Center. She has
been working there since April 2013. She has also
been a pioneering researcher of the Japan Science andTechnology Agency since October 2011.

using a photocatalyst from organic waste fluid derived fromthe plant factory as reducing power. This system produces CO2,
in addition to hydrogen, however, the system is completely
CO 2-neutral. The photosynthetic efficiency of plants canalso be improved by returning CO2 to the plant factory. The
issue of using hydrogen after its release has been mentioned
already. With regard to this issue, we are studying about theconstruction of an electrode system, similar to a fuel cell, which
can produce electricity by decomposing organic waste fluid using
photocatalysts. I hope that we can collaborate with you on such a
study.
Dr. MIYAKE ／ The problem of hydrogen as an industrial raw
material is also important. As Dr. Okura explained clearly, some
types of compounds required when organisms use light are very
unstable energy sources. If the process is not photosynthesis,
biomass is used. Biomass is stable because it is a reserve
substance of energy. If it is converted into the more highly
compatible substance hydrogen, it will have major value to theentire society as a chemical raw material.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ This will be our target in the future.
Dr. KINOSHITA ／ Just days ago, we were included in the COI
trial. We have planned for starting Center of Innovation for thesustainable future. Actually, a part of the proposal has been
accepted by JST, then we will start the trial version of COI. In fact,
all of us who must manage this project are core members. Dr.
Nango, I know it’s sudden, but please comment on or discuss thisproject.
Dr. NANGO ／ I’ve conducted fundamental research on
artificial photosynthesis antennae with an American group for
approximately 35 years. The study on biohydrogen was initiatedin the form of international collaborative research for the New
Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO) project when Dr. Hashimoto was a professor living in
Shizuoka University.
The members of this study included the researchers who
conducted fundamental research on photosynthesis antennae

Professor, Graduate School of Engineering,Osaka Prefectural University

Masaya Matsuoka

Doctor Matsuoka earned his doctorate in engineering
after finishing his doctorate at the Graduate Schoolof Engineering, Osaka Prefectural University in
March 1997. After becoming a doctoral research
fellow in chemistry at the University of Paris VI(Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University), he took up the
position of research assistant at the Graduate Schoolof Engineering, Osaka Prefectural University. He
subsequently held the posts of lecturer and associate
professor at the same university's Graduate Schoolof Engineering; he has served in his current post
since April 2010. His areas of expertise are catalytic
chemistry, photochemistry, and physical chemistry.

in those days: Prof. Richard Cogedll (UK), Prof. Hugo Scheer(Germany), Prof. Paul Loach (US), and us. Dr. Yanagida（Osaka
Univ.）, who studied organic solar batteries, and Dr. Okura, who
studied hydrogen generation, were also involved in this study.
In addition, a group at Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc. conductedfundamental research on hydrogen generation. Dr. Okura had
knowledge of hydrogenase, which was already mentioned sometime ago.
He participated in the study as an observer and presented at
a conference of the society in the UK. This was the starting point
15 years ago. When this project was initiated, the term “artificial
photosynthesis” had not even been coined. Therefore, although
artificial photosynthesis and biohydrogen were associated, little
was known about biohydrogen.
As you know, Dr. Miyake was involved in a hydorogen evolution
project in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in which
he produced hydrogen actively. The concept of a hydrogensociety had already been suggested.
At that time, Prof. J. Barber in the UK, whose specialization wassame as Dr. Kamiya’s, presented the X-ray structural analysis ofphotosystem II (PSII). He also proposed the English term “artificial
photosynthesis.”At that time, studies on an organic solar battery based on
photosynthesis had not spread sufficiently. Dr. Miyake presented
a rapid photoelectric conversion effect from light to electricity
using photosynthesis materials. Since then, we have studied “Solarenergy to Fuel” in more advanced forms along with Dr. Amao
sitting next to me.
Our study developed the so-called level of “solar energy to fuel”
using photosynthesis materials. Currently, it is an extension of thestudy, as mentioned earlier. I stand here to represent the study. At
last, we’ve just started to find the contact point between artificial
photosynthesis with biohydrogen.
The surprising thing about the COI trial is the topic aiming at
a hydrogen society and the topic about a small town that will be
important to society in 20 years, as mentioned earlier. Of course,
what Dr. Miyake previously proposed as a form of a hydrogen
community has been fulfilled in unchanged form. An overview of
the result of the fulfillment is provided in a video by the Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry. The recognition is entirely

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OCARINA Communication 3■ Special Project

profileSpecially-Appointed Professor, OCARINA

Mamoru Nango

In 1974, Doctor Nango took up the post of assistantprofessor at the Graduate School of Engineering,Osaka City University. After working as a research
fellow at Northwestern University’s Department ofChemistry and Biology in 1976, he was appointed
assistant professor at the Graduate School ofEngineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology. Having
served (concurrently) as associate professor at
the Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Tohoku
University, he became Professor at the Graduate
School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute ofTechnology in 2000. In March 2010, he became
Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University.

5

profileDirector, OCARINA

Isamu Kinoshita

Doctor Kinoshita graduated from the Department ofChemistry, School of Science, Tohoku University. He
completed a research course at the Graduate Schoolof Science, Nagoya University. He is a Doctor of
Science. Having held posts as an assistant, lecturer,
and assistant professor at the Osaka City University
Graduate School of Science, he was appointed to hiscurrent position, which he has held since 2003.

Dr. MIYAKE ／ I hope that OCU will lead the world, by all means.

involved in ecology, it appears that the hydrogen society isnearing reality. For those of us who aim at the realization of
artificial photosynthesis, we think that the targets in the twoyears of the trial are as follows: to find the balance between
artificial photosynthesis and the system that uses the organisms,
to develop an artificial system for the balance, to improve it, andto contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society.
In the discussion, the topic of an oxygen-evolving system of
PSII, which is my work, was mentioned. Natural photosynthesis
is a water-splitting and oxygen-evolving system. If thenatural system can be adequately incorporated into artificial
photosynthesis system, it would be perfect. Such a systemis still partly like a castle in the air, so we want to accelerate
development of a hydrogen-evolving system while continuallytrying various electron sources.
I think that Dr. Amao, Dr. Fujii, and other members will play
key roles. By having participated in this conference, I strongly
feel that the important thing is communication and informationexchange with communities in the forefront of biohydrogen.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Dr. NANGO ／ That topic was about the beginning of the study.
First, for the purpose of this study, we have to firmly and properly
strengthen our foundation, including in East Asia, with regard toeducational environment and future students. In fact, we’ve done
it with the purpose.
Sorry that I spoke longer than you expected.

Dr. KINOSHITA ／ We are halfway through the international
conference. It has already achieved great success, and we are
excited to continue with the latter half and pray that it ends insuccess. The meeting is adjourned.
Thank you very much for taking the time to attend thisconference.

different from the past.
In the present situation, because the contact point between
fundamental research and applied research was achieved, weplan to perform the fundamental research in our university tofulfill similar contact points in the future. Based on the suggestion
by Dr. Miyake, the base has to be placed at OCU because
artificial photosynthesis has not been studied sufficiently inother universities. Thus, we intend to present and manage thisfield well. Coincidentally, it was the year when the international
conference for hydrogen would be held in Japan, so Dr. Miyake
said, “Let’s conduct it in combination with the establishment of
the Artificial Photosynthesis Center.” We discussed it for about
two year and actually held the conference.
It is expected that primarily Dr. Kamiya and other scientists
will proactively conduct such studies, and OCU will provide theArtificial Photosynthesis Center as a base and lead this country inthis field in the future. It will not only be a core of excellence basein Japan but also the core in the world.

Dr. KINOSHITA ／ Thank you very much. These backgrounddiscussions led to the current COI trial. The project leader should
become from industry, Mr. Yamashita, belonging to Fuji Chemical
Industry Co. Ltd., acts as the project leader. Instead, I would liketo have the last comment from Dr. Kamiya as the research leader
who actually manages this project from academic part.
Dr. KAMIYA ／ Initially, we began to apply the COI by strongly
promoting artificial photosynthesis. This time, considering
artificial photosynthesis, it was the trial and adoption in terms of
the realization of a hydrogen society.
While listening to the discussion of the topic of biohydrogen

Presentation of Dr. Masaaki Takabatake (Manager of the department of the local
economy of the Kansai Bereau of Economy, Trade and Industry) at ABHL/iSec

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

OCARINA Communication 3■ Topics
Towards making the next-generationhydrogen energy society a reality

profileCOI-T unit project leader Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (Group
Company) AstraReal Co. Ltd., retail corporate headquarters
scientific supervising director and manager of overseas sales.

Eiji Yamashita

core, with the driving force behind this research being based

Master degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kyoto Pharmaceutical
University Graduate School in March 1990; joined Itano Refrigeration Co.
Ltd.
Research student at Tokushima University (1993–1998), researcher at
School of Medicine, Texas University, San Antonio, USA (1995–1997),
obtained doctorate in pharmacy in July 1998 (Tokushima University).
Joined Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in 2001. Fuji Health Science, Inc.
Transfers (California, USA, 2003–2005). Transferred to AstraReal Co.,
Ltd. in 2012 (current position). Councilor of the International Carotenoid
Society (secretary-general) 2011–2014. Qualified pharmacist and doctorof pharmacy. Visiting professor of Osaka City University, Advanced
Research Institute, since November 2013. Specialty: Natural products
chemistry. Research topics: research on the physiological function andbiological activity of astaxanthin and elucidation of its mechanisms, as wellas its formulation and product development.

of Osaka Prefecture and the University of Hyogo as a satellite

devices, by exploiting powder techniques refined over theLtd., Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., Sharp Co., Ltd., Espec

Photosynthesis Research Center completed by Osaka City

Recently, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,

Science, and Technology has adopted a “Next-Generation

Hydrogen Energy Society Realization” unit as part oftheir COI STREAM project, COI-T (trial). This unit places

photosynthesis/artificial photosynthesis research at themainly at Osaka City University, with links to the University

institute. Companies such as Fuji Chemical Industry Co.,

Corp., and Glory Ltd. will contribute. The aim is to establish
hydrogen production and storage techniques that areclean and safe and to reassure circulating energy by taking
advantage of these research results.

To achieve this, the Osaka City University Center for

Health Science Innovation (opened this spring at theconveniently situated Osaka Umeda Kita Yard’s Grand Front
Osaka institute) has been established as a collaborative

research organization. In addition to facilitating face-toface communication with researchers related to the unit,
it will engage in the execution of projects on the basis ofcareful coordination, with future plans to make use of ICT

to establish systems to share information regarding thedevelopment status of projects internally and with associatedorganizations.

COI-T (trial) was recently adopted as a future COI unit

past 60 years. We will send our researchers into the Artificial

University last year. In addition, astaxanthin, which has
recently become an exceptionally popular subject in healthfood and cosmetics, has been produced by large-scalecultivation of an alga called Haematococcus. Furthermore, in

response to the demand, we decided to invest 3 billion yen
in the U.S last year, and to extend more facilities, and thesecond facility will be completed in this May in Washington.
Application of this method includes the large-scale cultivationof algae with pigments and photosynthesis proteins
useful for hybrid artificial photosynthesis. In addition, theestablishment of purification/extraction methods falls within
this scope.

For me personally, if the society that fits into the “shapeof the future we should aim for” is realized, I would certainly
like to put the people first.

candidate. As project leader, in order to verify concepts
and the component technolog ytowards achieving this vision, rather
than setting a target to verify all

application content over a short<Shape of the future we should aim for>
OutlineHydrogen usage
management center

verify core techniques and clarify/

define exit strategies towards

,

ter

Wa

period of 2 years, I would like toHydrogenproduction devices(artiﬁcial photosynthesis)

2COBiomassPlant
factory

H2

accomplishing this vision, as wellas preserve the organisation unit,

among other things, throughindustry-university collaborations.

Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

a i m s f o r t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a n dpowdering of mesoporous materials

that incorporate pigments that

Hydrogen station

Fuel cells

Fuel cell vehicles【Implementation system】

Biomass
processing
plant

Facilities for the production of hydrogen fromwater and biomass by sunlight are established in
the regional community. Fuel cells and hydrogenstation facilities are used as electric power andcar fuel by households and public services within
the community. Compared to hydrogen previously
obtained from splitting water (and because it
becomes water again after use), the fuel cycle
does not burden the environment. CO2 generated
during the production of hydrogen from biomass
will be captured together with CO2 released byfactories in the region in a plant factory and usedin the high-eﬃciency production of, for instance,
vegetables.
With the exception of persons requiring
qualiﬁcations, these facilities will be managed by
the residents of the region and will be set up insuch a way that the elderly and disabled can also
work there. In addition, because energy,
vegetables, and foodstuﬀs can be self-sustaining
for a certain period, the facilities will be an
indispensable foundation to meet the basic needsof residents during disasters.

are essential for the integrationof artificial photosynthesis into

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

6

OCARINA Communication 3■ Topics
Regarding the commencement of the
COI-T project“From the shape of a society as it should be, guided by

the currently dormant demands of a future society, a way oflife (a vision) is established. With this vision as a foundation,liberal research and development subjects that deal withthe limitations of existing fields and organizations and look

into the future 10 years from now are specified. Such liberal

profileProfessor of the OCARINA

Nobuo Kamiya
Visiting researcher at the High Energy Physics
Laboratory/Synchrotron Radiation Experiment Institution,
vice principal investigator at RIKEN, and chief of the
Research Technique Development Section at RIKEN,Harima Branch (large-scale synchrotron radiation facility,
SPring-8). In 2005, he became a professor at the Osaka
City University Graduate School of Science. Since
2010, he has been a full-time professor at the Advanced
Research Institute.

innovation cannot be realized by industry alone but may berealized through collaboration with academia.” With this aim,
the liberal innovation inventing program (COI STREAM) was

takes a denomination of elementary school districts, whichhtm). Project leader Eiji Yamashita (Fuji Chemical Industry

great disaster, “Life Lab” aims to support people sheltering

created (http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/kagaku/coi/index.

Co., Ltd.) and research leader Nobuo Kamiya (Osaka City
University) were proposed and selected for the COI-T (T for“trial”) project “Next-Generation Hydrogen Energy Society
Realization,” centered at Osaka City University. Their activities

began in November 2012, through an industry-academia
collaboration between 5 companies（Fuji Chemical Industry

7

Co., Ltd.; Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.; Sharp Co., Ltd.; Espec

Corp.; and Glory Ltd.) and 3 academic institutions (Osaka City

University, University of Osaka Prefecture, and Universityof Hyogo). The COI vision of this project is to accomplish

a hydrogen energy society in the near future. Liberal
research subjects necessary to work towards this vision

include the realization of high-efficiency electrodes requiredby next generation fuel cells through theapplication of

microsurface fabrication techniques and the development

contain approximately 10,000 people. In the event of ain elementary schools (estimated at 1,000 of 10,000

people) for a week, even if the supply of materials andenergy is obstructed, by using secure emergency stores andlife support systems implemented at elementary schools.

Furthermore, this life support system includes a plant factorythat makes effective use of the carbon dioxide produced

during artificial photosynthesis of hydrogen from biomass,and can contribute to food supply in a time of crisis. The

current COI-T project is a trial (implemented over 1.5 years),

aiming towards a larger scale COI application. To further theapplication of this project, it is necessary to confirm whether
the volume of artificially photosynthesized hydrogen in the

future is sufficient to meet the demands of hydrogen of the“Life Lab,” while developing the target subject of each unit.

of next-generation hydrogen production equipment. This

would rapidly increase the efficiency of hydrogen production
by exploiting artificial
photosynthesis techniquesthat use cyclable biomass andResearch and development themes key to this realizationwater as raw materials. These
devices comprise circulating

life support systems. As exit

strategy of this project, it isplanned to verify the utility

University of Hyogo Next
Generation Hydrogen Catalyst
Collaborative Research Centerof the aforementioned life
support system, as well as

to increase the amount ofartificially photosynthesizedhydrogen for the next-

Osaka Prefecture University Plant
Factory Research Center

generation hydrogen energy
society, through links withthe disaster-orientated “LifeLab” program. This program
The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

OCARINA Communication 3■ Introduction to research
The necessity of catalysts forthe realization of new fuelproduction techniques in “artificial
photosynthesis”
Having been appointed for over 12 years at the Departmentof the Applied Chemistry of the Faculty of Engineering at

profileProfessor of OCARINA

Yutaka Amao
Completed a doctorate in Engineering at the Graduate
School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Instituteof Technology in March 1997. He was a researcher at the
Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology and the
National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (now JAXA). In
addition, he was a lecturer and then became an associate
professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Oita University,and is a professor at the Advanced Research Institutesince April 2013. He is also a Precursory Research
for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO)
researcher at the Japan Science and Technology Agency
since April 2010.

Oita University, I relocated to the Osaka City University
Advanced Research Institute on April 1st, 2013. Whileappointed at Oita University, I pursued the use of organic,

artificial systems to convert carbon dioxide into a low-carbon

inorganic, and biological approaches in hybrid-artificial

fuel. Naturally, it is necessary to use those biomolecules

photosynthesis. At first, while enrolled in a doctoral programthat participate in photosynthesis appropriately; however,at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, I had been pursuingdevelopment cannot occur with those biomolecules alone.

research on the photosynthesis reaction using chlorophyll,

Catalysts that participate in the decomposition of water into

silver microparticles, and enzymes with visible light energy.

oxygen and electrons, catalysts that participate in reactions

In my second year of appointment at Oita University, I tookthat reduce hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide, and catalysts

an interest in reaction processes related to the recycling ofthat participate in the transfer of energy and electrons andcarbon dioxide in photosynthesis, and we asked whether

the efficient collection of light are needed. Consequently,

it is possible to construct a simple system using visible

the development of hybrid catalysts that utilize organic,

light energy and perform a molecular transformation on

inorganic, and biological agents has become an important

carbon dioxide. We then produced research on a reaction

subject.

system of chlorophyll and similar molecules with formate

It goes without saying that catalysts are the key players

dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the reaction of formic acidin the realization of artificial photosynthesis (however,to carbon dioxide. Later, we discovered that if an aldehyde/

understanding just how important they are requires an equalalcohol dehydrogenase was included in the system, carbon

amount of effort). I believe in the necessity of an appropriate

dioxide was converted into methanol by visible light energy.

assembly of photocatalysts, molecular catalysts, solid
catalysts, and my specialty, biocatalysts, in leaving artificial

That was 10 years ago. However, at that time, hardly

photosynthesis techniques for low-carbon fuel production inanybody paid attention to “artificial photosynthesis” as

the near future not just a dream, but making it a reality, and I

a keyword, and I remember that the photoreduction ofwill contribute with my humble skills in this area.

carbon dioxide was surprisingly overlooked. However, a

One final word: To the question “Why Methanol?” I thinkturning point was reached in 2009. In September 2009, theyou will understand the potential of the new fuel if I say,administration changed and the prime minister announced“methanol fuel can move an F1 scale racing car at more thanat the UN climate change summit that the greenhouse gas

300 km/h.”

emissions would be reduced by 25% by the year 2020,
compared to levels of 1990. Thinking back, the numberof requests for lectures and reviews both from Japan andabroad about results of research on the photoreductionof carbon dioxide started to increase, which I recall mass

Towards the realization of artificial photosynthesis

media also seized upon. Thus, with the establishment ofan artificial photosynthesis research center at Osaka City
University and the target of utilizing light energy by 2030, I
am aiming for the realization of systems to convert water andcarbon dioxide into methanol. Photosynthesis utilizes visible

To future fuels

light energy to create sugars and enzymes from water andcarbon dioxide. Therefore, it is a model for the realization of

From test tubes to large reaction vessels

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

8

OCARINA Communication 3■ Introduction to research
Artificial photosynthesis and themechanism of light collection inphotosynthesis

9

The sun is the outside force with the greatest impact on theplanet. Therefore, it is clear that if we can efficiently exploit the sun,humanity will gain an inexhaustible supply of energy. However,
if we look at the sun as a light source, the density of photons is
exceptionally low. Moreover, the influence of not just day andnight but also clouds and the atmosphere make the amount oflight considerably unstable and the efficiency for stimulating
photoreactions for interactions between molecules and photons ispoor. The light collecting mechanisms of photosynthetic organisms
have overcome this problem. The answer is an “in times of excess,thin out; in times of scarcity, collect”-mechanism, which could becalled a light management mechanism. The essential components ofthis interplay of light energy are photosynthetic pigments bound toproteins. Much of the molecular mechanisms and their true natureare still unclear, and active fundamental research is still carriedout in this field. By focusing on the light gathering mechanism
demonstrated by photosynthetic pigments bound to proteins, I
would like to carry out research to modify artificial photosynthesisin an applicable fashion through the elucidation of natural
photosynthetic systems.
In April of 2013, I became an associate professor of OCARINA.
I will take this opportunity to introduce my research with a shortoutline. When I was an undergraduate with vague ambitions of
doing photosynthesis research, I learned about photosynthetic
membranes, where photovoltaics were obtained in a lipid
membrane, and had rough ideas, e.g., how great it would be if we
could attach photovoltaic membranes to the windows. I was thinking
about those kinds of things when I started working in a laboratory.
Seeing the colorful photosynthetic bacteria being cultured andrealizing that photosynthetic organisms are not just green made a
big impression on me. The substances conferring these varied colors
were photosynthetic pigments called carotenoids. Carotenoids
supply absorbed photoexcitation energy to chlorophyll, which
carries out the photoelectric conversion. In addition to their role aslight antenna, their antioxidative effects have a photoprotection role;
all photosynthetic organisms have carotenoids.
Thus, I am carrying out a spectroscopic approach, focusing
on qualities of the excited state and the structure of carotenoids
bound to photosynthetic proteins. We cultivate large amounts ofphotosynthetic bacteria and prepare large volumes of pigments
and proteins, employing Raman, absorption, and fluorescence
spectroscopic methods, along with methods such as vibrational
calculations. Through research on structural changes immediately
following photoexcitation, we have gained new knowledge about thefact that structural information of pigments as they exist in proteinsis indispensable in the elucidation of details on photosynthetic
functions.
Having married, I took the opportunity to move to Osaka City
University, where we performed X-ray crystallographic structure

profileAssociate professor, OCARINA

Ritsuko Fujii

Completed a doctorate in science at the Graduate
School of Science, Kwansei Gakuin University
in March 2001. She was a specially appointed
researcher of the Japan Society for the Promotionof Science (PD) and held successive research
positions at the Graduate School of Scienceand Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University,and the Osaka City University Research Center
for Industry Innovation, before being speciallyappointed as associate professor to the Advanced
Research Institute for Natural Science andTechnology (OCARINA). She has been working
there since April 2013. She has also been a pioneering researcher of the Japan Scienceand Technology Agency since October 2011.

analysis of complexes of proteins with photosynthetic pigments
and attempted time-resolved spectral diffraction of these complexes
in the photoexcited crystal state. Then, we carried out research
for which we constructed artificial photosynthetic membranes byinsertion of photosynthetic proteins into lipid membranes, observed
the protein arrangement by electron microscopy, and investigated
the transmission of energy by fluorescence spectra [1].
Returning to work after having a child and with assistance from a
project where large-scale cultivation of marine macroalgae according
to the requirements of the particular species was possible, I was able
to take on a research project about the structure and function of aphotosynthetic pigment that binds to a new photosynthesis antenna
protein [2,3]. From biochemistry to analysis, we are in a situation
where we are making progress, with experiments covering a wide
field, including the purification of proteins and determination ofamino acid sequences, as well as the determination of the structure
and composition of the pigment. Nonetheless, I would like toaccumulate definitive data and establish parameters around which
the mechanism of the photosynthetic antenna can be discussed.
It has been 10 years since I came to Osaka City University;
however, I am still a novice member of the teaching staff and I willcontinue to reach out to everyone for their cooperation.
【References】[1] Fujii et al. Photosyn. Res. 95 (2008) 327.
[2] Fujii et al., Photosynth. Res., 111(2012)157.
[3] Fujii et al. Photosynth. Res. 111(2012)165.
[4] Nakagawa, Fujii, et al., J. Phys. Chem B 112(2008)9467.

Figure: Photosynthesis antenna proteins to which carotenoids with different numbers of conjugated double
bonds (n) bind (photo above) and the chemical structure of those carotenoids (below) [from reference 4]

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

OCARINA Communication 3

Discovery of a neurite removal
mechanism in nematodes
I will introduce my research up until now. I performed
research on bees under Prof. Takeo Kubo of the Graduate
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (now at the School of
Science), Tokyo University. In the process, I participatedin the cloning of the transcription factor Mblk-1, which
is selectively expressed in the memory center of the bee
brain. To estimate the gene function, we started researchusing the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans).
Such research has many advantages, because nematodes
have clear bodies and, in addition to having a simple
nervous system (comprised of a mere 302 neurons), it iseasy to perform gene manipulation on them. We identified
the nematode homologue gene of Mblk-1, mbr-1, and by
expression analysis, we found that it is expressed in multiple
interneurons, including a neuron pair called AIM. Mbr-1
deletion mutants were constructed, and phenotype analysis
results showed abnormalities in the plasticity of olfactory
behavior. In addition, visualization of neurons of mbr1 deletion mutants using green fluorescent protein andanalysis of the shape of neurons revealed that the left andright AIM neurons were connected by neurites not seen in
the wild type strain (Figure 1).
In fact, these neurites are commonly seen in early larvaeof the wild type strain, and it has been found they are
removed later during development. Similar to the finding thatthe transcription factor MBR-1 is necessary for the removalof neurites accompanying development, the present research
was the first report of neurite removal in nematodes and,
therefore, the research results were published in Current
Biology (reference 1). Dr. Yu Hayashi (then a graduate
student of the School of Science, Tokyo University, now
a young research fellow at the International Institute forIntegrative Sleep Medicine, University of Tsukuba), whoworked with us in this research, later discovered that the Wnt
signal has an inhibitory effect on neurite removal by MBR1, and the results were presented in Nature Neuroscience(reference 2).

profileSpecially appointed tenure-track associate
professor of OCARINA

Eriko Nakadai（(Kage）

March 1999: Graduated from the School of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University.
March 2001: Completed a masters at the Schoolof Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University.
March 2004: Completed a doctorate inPharmaceutical Science at the Graduate Schoolof Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo.
April 2004: Researcher at Sankyo, ltd. (nowDaiichi Sankyo, ltd.)
April 2007: Assistant teacher, 2nd Physiology
Laboratory, Tokyo Women’s Medical University
April 2012: Lecturer 2nd Physiology Laboratory, Tokyo Women’s Medical University
February 2014: Current position.

the Department of Physiology, Tokyo Women’s Medical
University, started research on the barrier mechanism usedby nematodes to regulate the permeability of the bodysurface (skin). We found that a very-long-chain fatty acid CoA
synthetase (with fatty acids containing >24 carbons) carries
out important roles in the body surface barrier mechanism.
More specifically, it was discovered that mutations in acs-20,
the gene coding a very-long-chain fatty acid CoA synthetasein nematodes, caused various low-molecular-weightcompounds that, in general, not easily pass through thenormal body surface to be taken up into the body. It was also
found that abnormalities in the body surface due to mutationin acs-20 could be negated by insertion of the humanhomologue gene, Fatp4 (reference 3). Until now, compound
screening of individual nematodes had a limitation in thatcompounds are not easily taken up into the body because of
the body surface (cuticle) barrier of nematodes; however, it ishoped that it will be possible to construct a highly sensitive
screening system using mutations in acs-20 (figure 2).

Figure 2: Drug screening on an acs-20 mutant with increased permeability to compounds

In addition, the body surface barrier plays an importantrole in the prevention of infection. Nematodes continue toaccumulate interest as host model for various pathogenic
microbes. Given its role as a host model, I would like toengage in the elucidation of the molecular mechanism of thebodily defense system of the nematode in the future.
[References]

Figure 1: Removal of neurites between AIM neurons (left and right) did not occur
in mbr-1 mutants

Mechanism of the body surface barrier of nematodes
Having spent 3 years in drug development researchin pharmaceutical companies, Prof. Shohei Mitani of

1. Kage, E., Hayashi, Y., Takeuchi, H., Hirotsu, T., Kunitomo, H., Inoue, T.,
Arai, H., Iino, Y., Kubo, T. MBR-1, a novel helix-turn-helix transcription
factor, is required for pruning excessive neurites in Caenorhabditis
elegans. Curr. Biol. 15, 1554-1559, 2005
2. Hayashi, Y., Hirotsu, T., Iwata, R., Kage-Nakadai, E., Kunitomo, H.,
Ishihara, T., Iino, Y., Kubo, T. A trophic role for Wnt-Ror kinase signaling
during developmental pruning in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat. Neurosci.
12, 981-987, 2009
3. Kage-Nakadai E, Kobuna H, Kimura M, Gengyo-Ando K, Inoue T, Arai H,
Mitani S. Two very long chain fatty acid acyl- CoA synthetase genes, acs20 and acs-22, have roles in the cuticle surface barrier in Caenorhabditis
elegans. PLoS One 5, e8857. 2010

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

10OCARINA Communication 3■ Introduction to research

profilePh.D., Department of Applied Chemistry,
Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka
University

Takaaki ASOH

Fabrication of artificial muscles andorgans by nano-surgery of hydrogels
Hydrogels are similar to the macromolecular-based
components in the body, therefore, hydrogels havefound numerous applications in tissue engineering anddrug delivery systems. Hydrogels with a large amountof water have attracted much attention as substitutematerial of conventional plastics, artificial muscles andorgans.
Adhesion of soft materials including hydrogels has

11

April 2009 to February 2013
Assistant Professor, Tokyo University of
Science
March 2013 to the present
Tenure-track Specially appointed
Lecturer, OCARINA

togetherusing water-soluble polymers. At OCARINA,

I develop micro-structure regulated “artificial muscles”
and “artificial organs” by “nano surgery” of synthetic andnatural occurring polymer gels, protein, and cells. Tailor
Made 3-D materials are build up by electrophoretic
adhesion of desired hydrogel parts with regulation ofshape, gradient, porosity, and pattern for fabrication of
artificial muscles and organs.

therefore attracted attention because it is one of themost important processes for building functional soft
constructs. To develop functional and microstructureregulated devices using hydrogels, the "adhesion" ofhydrogels is required. However, it is difficult to adhere【References】
1. T. Asoh, A. Kikuchi Chem. Commun. 2010, 46, 7793.
2. T. Asoh, W. Kawai, A. Kikuchi Soft Matter 2012, 8, 1923.
3. T. Asoh, E. Kawamura, A. Kikuchi RSC Adv. 2013, 3, 7947.
4. T. Asoh, A. Kikuchi Chem. Commun. 2012, 48, 10019.

hydrogel each other, because when any glue is applied toadhere two hydrogels, the motion of the adhesive coatedsurfaces or mass transfer between the two hydrogels
will be encumbered by the presence of solidified glue.
Recently, we successfully adhered oppositely charged
hydrogel by "electrophoretic adhesion(Fig.1)¹-⁴". During
electrophoresis, cationic and anionic polymers move tothe cathode and anode, respectively. Then, polyions werediffused inside of the gels and adhesion was achieved
through the formation of a polyion complex at theinterface of the two hydrogels. The adhered hydrogels
were quite stable in water, and detachment of theadhered hydrogels was also possible by simply applying
the inverse voltage.
We already reported about preparation of hydrogel
actuator by adhesion of stimuli-responsive hydrogels
and non-stimuli-responsive hydrogels each other. In
other words, the electrophoretic adhesion of hydrogels
is nano surgery, which the hydrogel interface is stitched

Figure 1(a) Illustration of electrophoretic adhesion of hydrogelsand (b-e) adhered hydrogels.

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

OCARINA Communication 3■ Introduction to Facilities
MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer

Makoto Miyata“Life phenomena” appear chaotic without any regularity;
however, that chaos actually follows its own kind of laws based on
the properties of biomolecules, evolution, and energy. Biology is asubject that attempts to apply these kinds of laws to the ultimate
chaos that is the life phenomena, and of the various “outlets” ofchaos, proteins were the first to be discovered. The fundamental
elements of proteins, i.e., amino acids, form a polymerized
structure with infinite degrees of freedom. Until around 15 years
ago, identifying a protein that is key to a given phenomenon andresolving its amino acid sequence required at least several years.
With more than 5 years of graduate school, if one could
determine the amino acid sequence of an unknown protein, it
would be his/her great start of a life as researcher. However, today,
the determination of the amino acid sequence of a protein has
been reduced to “work” that can be completed in 3 days by a 4thyear student, having just started working in a laboratory. It is likethe return of Xuanzang to China on a cloud from India. It makes
one think, “What was the reason for the limitations of our previous
efforts?” The origin of the current, “happier,” situation is the Human
Genome Project, which most molecular biologists criticized harshly.
The amino acid sequences of all proteins are encoded in a 4-lettercode in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in genes, stored in a placecalled the nucleus in cells of organisms. The extraction of DNA
and the reading of its code are very simple. In the Human Genome
Project, as much of this code as possible was read and deposited
into a database. The Human Genome Project has progressed
substantially, and because many of the world’s DNA codes have

Ultrashort pulse generation

Daisuke Kosumi

Recent developments of an ultrashort laser technology
realized a generation of high intensity and extremely shortpulses with a pulse duration of sub-5 fs (10 -15 s), whichcorresponds to a quasi-monocycle electronic field in the visible
region. Such laser pulses have been utilized to attosecond (10-18 s)
or THz (1012 Hz) science. Further, a sub-5 fs timescale is shorter

been added to the database, amino acid sequences of proteins can,in general, be determined by reference to sequences deposited in
the database. Yet, how does one find the DNA code that corresponds
to the amino acid sequence of a protein of interest? One uses a
mass spectrometer, the working of which I have explained below.
The device partially fragments the protein and accurately measuresthe mass of those fragments, which allows the identification of theprotein’s amino acid sequence from a database. Furthermore, inrecent years, the device has been used not only in the determinationof the amino acid sequence of novel proteins, but is also being usedin all aspects of biology, as a method of specifying a protein and its
fragments.
The Bruker Autoflex Speed TOF/TOF mass spectrometer(matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–tandem time-offlight; MALDI-TOF/TOF), which exceeds the capabilities of othertypes of laser matrixassisted mass spectrometers currently
on the market in sensitivity, precision, speed, ease of use, andmaintainability, was introduced at the Osaka City University inthe new research field of “harmonized supramolecular motility
machinery and its diversity”(representative: Makoto Miyata of the
Graduate School of Science). In addition, even when comparedto mass spectrometers other than laser matrix-assisted ones,
this device is superior
with regard to its overall
performance in thespecification of proteins.
It would certainly be no
exaggeration to call thisa “godly machine.”(Photo:graduate students
pray to the “godly machine”)

than vibrational periods of atomic nuclei consisting condensed
matters. Therefore, ultrafast spectroscopy utilizing sub-5 fs
pulses can visualize real-time motions of atomic nuclei. We now
introduce the hollow fiber pulse compressor: Kaleidoscope
seeded with a femtosecond regenerative amplifier to obtain sub5 fs pulses.
Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier (Legend Elite-USP,
Coherent) Output pulses of a regenerative amplifier has a center
wavelength: 800 nm, average power: 4.5 W, a pulse duration:
30 fs, and a repetition rate: 5 kHz. Output pulse power stabilizes
within 0.2% (rms) over time (>10 h).
Hollow fiber pulse compressor(Kaleidoscope, FemtoLasers)
Kaleidoscope is consisted of a hollow
fiber chamber filled with a noble gas
and an ultra-broadband chirped mirrors
compressor. Optical pulses with highpeak intensity are efficiently spectrally
broadened by nonlinear optical effects
during propagation in a hollow fiber(diameter: 250 μ m). Output pulses from
Kaleidoscope are compensated by a chirped
mirrors compressor. Compensated pulses
have a spectral band width of 230 nm, a
pulse duration of 5.0 fs, and average powerof 1.5 W. In the future, we will utilize 5 fs
pulses to ultrafast optical spectroscopies
to elucidate a primary process ofphotosynthesis.

The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

12

OCARINA Communication 3■ Reports on Activities
The Advanced Research Institute invites leading scientists from Japan and abroad to its occasional OCARINA seminars.
The OCARINA seminars include the “DISCO Party* major seminar,” which is willingly organized by the group of doctoral
students. At this fiscal year, OCARINA also held the international conference on biohydrogen and artificial photosynthesis (referto the special interview).
* DISCO Party (Doctor Course students’ Incorporated Scientific Communication Party): A group of doctoral students affiliatedwith OCARINA. The Party organized weekly closed seminars just for students to serve as an opportunity to exchange opinions
and to understand their mutual interests. In addition to the seminars, the Party held the large seminars, called "DISCO Party
major seminar", several times per year,.which invites guests from Japan and abroad, provide a common place for people withvarious occupations, including teaching staff, to discuss student research.

☆ OCARINA Seminars ☆
12 th

Date

15th May 2013

Venue

13

Guest

Akitaka Ito (Assistant Teacher, OCU, Physical Chemistry)“Excited state dynamics: photochemical qualities and photo-induced reactions in rigid media”

Guest

Masahiro Mikuriya (Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University,Inorganic/Complex Chemistry)

Theme“Magnetic metal complexes using copper oxide as a motif”

15 th

16 th

Student: Ayu Karimata (Physical Organic Chemistry Laboratory D2）

Date

10 June 2013

Guest

Daniel Gryko (Professor, The Polish Academy of Sciences, Organic Chemistry)

Theme“Meso-substituted corroles and expanded porphyrins from synthesis and spectroscopy to photophysics”

th

Venue

DISCO Party major seminar no. 6

14 th

Building 2, 220A

Theme

DISCO Party major seminar no. 5

13 th

For more details, please see the website.

Building 2, 220A

Student: Ayaka Tanaka (Molecular Physics Laboratory D2)
Building 2, 220A

Date

25 July 2013

Guest

Shin-Ichiro Ozawa (Postdoctoral researcher, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique)

Theme“Molecular association of the chloroplast ATP synthase CFO site in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii”

Date

5th August 2013

th

Venue

Venue

Building 2, 220A

Guest

Kiyohito Kihira (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency: JAXA)

Theme“Increasing the quality of protein crystals on the international space station”

Date

9th September 2013

Guest

Yutaka Nagasawa (Associate Professor, School of Engineering Science Osaka University, JST
researcher in the field of “light energy and conversion”)

Theme“A strange story about water A solvent dynamics viewpoint”☆ 外部資金獲得状況 ☆

Venue

Building 2, 220A

☆ Trends in external funding (2010 -2013) ☆

The figure on the right shows the trend in total funding＜平成22 年度～平成
25 年度
外部資金獲得総額の推移＞
obtainedfrom externalsources(research grants, joint
research funds, grants-in-aid of scientific research,
右表は、複合先端研究機構が本格的な活動を開始した平成
22
subsidiary aid, and donations, etc.) over 4 years by the
年度から平成 25 年度までの 4 年間に獲得された外部資金（受託研
Advanced Research Institute, having commenced full scale
究費、共同研究費、科研費、補助金、寄付金など）の総額推移表
activity from 2010 to 2013.

です。 In 2013, the Advanced Research Institute obtained
more than twice the total external funding acquired when
平成 25 年度外部資金獲得総額は複合先端研究機構の本格稼
it started full operations in 2010.
働した平成 22 年度の 2 倍を超える外部資金の獲得となっていま

25,000Total external funds by year

20,57320,00017,18315,00010,00011,977
9,358

5,000
0
2010

す。
The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

2011

2012

2013

OCARINA Communication 3☆ International Conference ☆
2013 Osaka City University Advanced Research Institute (OCARINA) annual international meeting--- Establishment of the Research Center of Artificial Photosynthesis (ReCAP) --◆ Dates: Monday 4th - Wednesday 6th March 2013 ◆ Venue: Osaka City University Media Center☆ Invited speakers ☆
1. Prof. Dr. Leroy Cronin (University of Glasgow, UK)
13. Masahiro Sadakane (Assistant Professor, Hiroshima University Institute of Engineering)
2. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Lubitz (Max Plank Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, DE)
14. Sachiko Matsushita (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering)
3. Prof. Dr. Bruno Robert (CEA Saclay, FR)
15. Shigeyuki Masaoka (Assistant Professor, National Institutes for Natural Sciences, Institute for Molecular Science)
4. Prof. Dr. Tim Storr (Simon Fraser University, CA)
16. Yuji Furutani (Assistant Professor, National Institutes for Natural Sciences, Institute for Molecular Science)
5. Dr. Rudi Berera (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, NL)
17. Hiroshi Ishikita (Specially Appointed Assistant Teacher, Career-Path Promotion Unit for Young Life Scientists, Kyoto University)
6. Osamu Ishitani (Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology Graduate School of Engineering) 18. Masayuki Yagi (Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Nagoya University)
7. Jun Miyake (Professor, Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering Science)
19. Toshio Asada (Assistant Professor, School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University)
8. Ryu Abe (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University)
20. Miwa Sugirua (Assistant Professor, Cell-Free Science and Technology Research Center, Ehime University)
9. Yutaka Amao (Assistant Professor, Applied Chemistry Department, Faculty of Engineering, Oita University) 21. Kentaro Ifuku (Assistant Teacher, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University)
10. Jian-Ren Shen (Professor, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University) 22. Mitsuo Shouji (Assistant Teacher, Center for Computational Sciences, Tsukuba University)
11. Masakazu Anpo (Osaka Prefecture University, Director, Vice President and Head of the Regional Research Collaboration Institute） 23. Kenji Kano (Professor, Graduate school of agriculture, Kyoto University)
12. Masako Kato (Professor, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University)☆ In-house speakers ☆
1. Nobuo Kamiya (Professor, Osaka City University Advanced Research Institute/ Graduate School of Science, Osaka University)
2. Masakazu Hirotsu (Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University)
3. Ritsuko Fujii (Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, Osaka City University Advanced Research Institute)
4. Daisuke Kosumi (Specially Appointed Professor, Osaka City University Advanced Research Institute)
5. Yoshimasa Fukushima (Specially Appointed Professor, Osaka City University Advanced Research Institute)

Asia BioHyLink (ABHL)/International Conference on Bio/Mimetic Solar Energy Conversion (iSec)◆ Dates: Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th November 2013 ◆ Venue: Osaka City University Media Center☆ Main speakers of the ABHL/iSEC (Plenary Lecture) ☆
○ Mitsuyoshi Ueda (Professor, Graduate school of agriculture, Kyoto University)○ Mika Goto (Senior researcher, Socio-economic Research Center, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry)○ Michael Seibert (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)○ Ken-ichiro Ota (Researcher/specially appointed professor, Faculty of engineering, Yokohama National University)○ Pieternal Claassen (Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research)○ Akihiko Kondo (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University)○ Masahiro Nishio (Principal researcher, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)○ Masanobu Kitanaka○ Eiichi Tamiya (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University)○ Yukio Okada (Sapporo Breweries Limited Institute for Value Creation frontier Research)○ Takashi Hayashi (Professor, Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering Science)○ Masayuki Hara (Professor, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Science)○ Hiroshi Ishikita (Professor, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University)○ Ryu Abe (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University)○ Masaya Matsuoka (Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University)☆ Special Address and Remarks ☆
○ Masaaki Takabatake (Head of Regional Economy Division, Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry)○ Kazue Taguchi (Head of Industry-Academia Collaboration, Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Ms. Kazue Taguchi (above) spoke not only at the conference,but also at the social gathering.

From November 22nd to 24th, 2013, the International Conference on Bio/Mimetic Solar Energy Conversion (iSec) was held at
Osaka City University (Sugimoto Campus) Media Center. This time, the 8th Asia BioHyLink (ABHL) shared the venue, congratulating
the completion of Research Center of Artificial Photosynthesis (ReCAP), which opened its doors to participants, mainly from various
Asian countries.
A total of 142 researchers attended the conference, with 91 participants from 13 overseas
countries (of which 35 were students), and 51 participants from Japan (of which 16 werestudents). A total of 70 researchers, 36 from overseas countries and 34 from Japan, gave oralpresentations on the latest research results in sun energy exchange, including photosynthesis
and biohydrogen production, using bio-related content. Of particular interest, the student
session, which was completely organized (from planning to management) by student members
including OCARINA DISCO Party, was overflowing with lively discussions. At the student poster
presentation, DISCO Party members Mr. Furuike (Graduate School of Science D2) and Ms. Tanaka(Graduate School of Science D2) were awarded the iSEC poster prize. (Picture on the right)
The OCU Advance Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology

14

History of the Osaka City University Advanced Research InstituteMarch 2008 (H20) Founding Anniversary International Symposium held(#0)
April 2008 (H20) The OCU strategic key research project (H20-H23) started
December 2008 (H20) International Workshop held on the efficient use of sunlight energy
April 2009 (H21) Enforcement of official regulations (start of activities as an official bureau)
January 2010 (H22) 1st International symposium held (#1)
March 2010 (H22) 2nd International symposium held (#2)
October 2010 (H22) building 2 renovated for research floors of OCARINA
November 2010 (H22) Opening symposium for building 2 of OCARINA held
March 2011 (H23) 3rd International symposium, “Kakuno memorial,” held (#3)
March 2012 (H24) Annual meeting and the OCU strategic key research project (H20-H23) debriefing held (#4)
April 2012 (H24) The OCU strategic key research project (H24-H26) started
July 2012 (H24) School of Science Building C completed, partial occupation
March 2013 (H25) 4th International symposium held (#5)
April 2013 (H25) 2 new full-time staff members appointed
June 2013 (H25) Research Center of Artificial Photosynthesis opened
February 2014 (H26) Partial occupation for the new School of Science Building
February 2014 (H26) 1 new full-time tenure track staff member appointed
March 2014 (H26) 1 new full-time tenure track staff member appointed
March 2014 (H26) 5th International symposium held (#6)

Osaka City University Advanced Research Institutefor Natural Science and Technology
3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku,
Osaka 558-8585, Japan
http://www.ocarina.osaka-cu.ac.jp/

Midosuji sub.

JR Shinkansen

Shin-Osaka
to Kyoto

to Shin-Kobe

to Kobe

JR Kobe line

Osaka
JR Tozai line

Kyobashi
OSAKA-loop line

Tsuruhasi

Tennoji
Abiko

Sugimoto-cho

Sugimoto
Campus (OCARINA)
Kansai Airport

Hineno
JR Hanwa line

(Original Japanese Version Published March 2014)