Division of Material Chemistry

ResearchBiochemistryｆield
http://chem.s.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/bio/index.html

Lab. IDMC05

Laboratory web site
Research subjects
All living organisms have to convert chemicals for obtaining energy or for other purposes, and the process is termed
as metabolism, the conversion process of biomolecules (i.e., dissimilation and assimilation). Among the conversion
processes of biomolecules, the redox processes are particularly sophisticated and attractive due to its complexityand difficulty to explore. Secondary metabolic pathways in specific organisms are also attractive in terms of its
relations for productions of valuable biomolecules such as natural rubber and natural dyes. Our laboratory focuses
on structures and functions of complex systems for redox enzymes which require transition metal ions such ascopper and iron or organic cofactors. We also study enzymes related to the secondary metabolic pathways and aim
to do its industrial applications. Since our target proteins are involved in the central field of life (e.g., energy
conversion, detoxification, biosynthesis and biodegradation), we analyze the details of its mechanistic processes bybasic biochemistry techniques. At the same time, we promote application researches of our enzymes for biofuel
cells, biosensors and productions of valuable biomolecules by protein engineering techniques to enhance its
activities and to alter its specificities. Keywords: Metalloprotein, energy conversion, protein engineering, electrodecatalyst, structural analysis, natural rubber biosynthetic machinery, photosynthesis, electron transfer, protontransport.
Master/Doctor course: Education policy, curriculum, typical activity in the laboratory
In addition to the lecture (seminars) about biochemistry to all graduate students (both Master and DoctoralCourses) we have seminars to carefully read review articles or books written in English and to show novel papers inwhich we are deeply concerned and are specially interested. All graduate students are required to actively
participate in seminars to give timely questions and to discuss. The student to give a presentation is required toprepare a resume easily understandable and power point files to skill up his or her presentation ability. All graduate
students should represent his or her research study at least once in the international or domestic meetings.
Daily life in the laboratory, etc.
We somet i mes hol d an event out si de of t he l ab, f or keepi ng a bet t er communi cat i on bet ween st af f sand l abor at or y st udent s ( st af f ) .
We are doing research hard and also enjoying laboratory life (Student).
All we laboratory members are friendly and assist each other even when reached a plateau (Student).

Message or comments by the laboratory faculty staffs
Students should keep paying attention what is going on, or anything unusual might happen, even in ordinary
experiments in your laboratory. Only person to keep in mind, what should be done now or in future, whether
everything what should be done is really done, are celebrated with success. What is now popular is already old!
Look for research themes of high values for humanity in the future..

Laboratory mail address

Kunishige Kataoka <kataoka *at* se.kanazawa-u.ac.jp>