Regulating metabolism to molecularly breed useful plants.
Green (Saitama University Research Seed Collection 2025-25 p.97)
Metabolic modification, photosynthesis, redox reaction, substance production, NAD(P)(H), coenzyme, plants, triacylglycerol, Nannochloropsis.
In recent years, the increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has been raised as a social issue. Plants and microalgae that perform photosynthesis absorb carbon dioxide, utilize light energy to synthesize sugars, and further synthesize proteins, lipids, and secondary metabolites. In the case of crops, we utilize this as food, but recently there has been active research aimed at making these photosynthetic organisms produce oils and useful functional components. We are conducting research to enhance the environmental stress resistance of photosynthetic organisms to increase their material production capacity, as well as isolating metabolic enzymes to produce specific substances and controlling their functions. As an example of our research, we are studying how to enhance photosynthetic ability by changing the amount and balance of nicotinamide coenzymes (NAD(P)(H)), which are used as electron carriers in various metabolic pathways. We are also promoting metabolic modification research on Nannochloropsis, which is expected to be a promising energy-producing organism.
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Maki Kawai, Professor Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Life Sciences, Field of Molecular Biology [Recent Research Themes] ● Metabolic research on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana ● Molecular breeding of plants with environmental stress resistance ● NAD(P)(H) metabolism research in the genus Flaveria, which performs C4 photosynthesis
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【Appeal Points to the Industry】 ● Metabolic modification aimed at increasing NAD(P)(H) levels ● Metabolic modification of the oil-producing microalga Nannochloropsis ● Elucidation of the metabolic pathway for the production of musty substances by cyanobacteria
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Nannochloropsis accumulates triacylglycerols intracellularly when cultured under nitrogen-deficient conditions.
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The Saitama University Open Innovation Center is a center that functions as a liaison office for industry-academia-government collaboration. It consists of three departments: the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Department, the Intellectual Property Department, and the Startup Support Department, each staffed with coordinators well-versed in various fields. The center's activities include solving technical challenges in companies, supporting the implementation of joint research, and conducting technology transfer aimed at introducing and utilizing Saitama University's intellectual property.