(b.1955), B.S.(1979, Waseda), M. Engr.(1981, Waseda), Technical Research Laboratories, Tokyo Research Laboratories, and Hofu Plant, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, Co.,Ltd.(1981-1999), Ph.D.(1987, Waseda), Senior Researcher (1994), Manager of the Technical Research Laboratories(1998), Kyowa, Hakko Kogyo, Co.,Ltd., Professor(1999, Waseda).

keywords

Applied Biochemistry / Fermentation and Bioengineering / Metabolic Engineering / Genetic Engineering and Molecular Breeding / Amino Acid Production

Room 65-306
3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan

Tel: +81-3-5286-3211

Fax: +81-3-3232-3889

E-mail: kkino@waseda.jp

Research Interests

Biotechnology and biochemistry of microorganisms are studied, focusing on the development of efficient production systems of useful substances such as amino acid, nucleic acid, an antibiotic and these derivatives. In particular, amino acid fermentation on an industrial scale by bacteria such as Corynebacterium glutamicum or Escherichia coli has been studied, including the strain improvement by metabolic modifications.
Recent research focuses on the development of unique bioconversion processes and the application to bioremediation using microorganisms and microbial enzymes. In addition, for the purpose of maximal utilization of various functions possessed by diverse microorganisms, we are investigating the search of useful proteins/genes using genomic informations and the development of directed enzyme evolution by molecular engineering.

1. Functional development of carbohydrates related enzymes and uses to the production of useful substances.
We have discovered that maltose phosphorylaseand cellobiose phosphorylase catalyze the glucosylation as well as the phosphorolysis reaction. As a result, α-glucoside and β-glucoside are synthesized, respectively. These anomer-selective syntheses proceed almost irreversibly, so various glucosides are obtained with high yield

2. Search of amino acids related enzymes and development of the efficient production system of amino acid derivatives.
We have succeeded in finding out tryptophan racemic activity from Bacillus sp. using a high sensitivity screening system. Crude enzyme prepared from this strain also catalyzes the racemization of phenylalanine. D-form aromatic amino acid is obtained from L- form by this novel enzyme. We are also investigating the production of chiral unnatural amino acids and hydroxy carboxylic acids from α-keto acids using transaminases (fig.2.).

Development of enzyme functions by using methods of directed evolution and molecular biology is studied for the construction of unique and effective bioconversion processes (Fig. 3.).

3. Development of energy and environmental technology for the sustainable industrial growth.
We investigate the development of the production system of useful materials such as lactic acid, citric acid and ethanol from biomass and the bio-treatment system for industrial waste and drainage considering the recovery of useful materials.

Representative Publications

1."Isolation of Dimethyl Sulfone-Degrading Microorganisms and Application to Odorless Degradation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide", J. Biosci. Bioeng., 97, 82-84 (2004).

2. "Bio-Processes for the Production of Organic Sulfur Compounds as Cosmetics and Flavors", Fine Chemical, 32, 26-34 (2003).

3. "Degradation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide by the Immobilized Cells of Hyphomicrobium denitrificans WU-K217", Biochem. Eng. J., 15, 199-204 (2003).

4. "Microbial Processes for the Production of Organic Sulfur Compounds as Cosmetic Materials", Fregrance J., 31, 16-22 (2003).

5. "Oxidative Degradation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide by Cryptococcus humicolus WU-2, a Newly Isolated Yeast", J. Biosci. Bioeng., 95, 109-111 (2003).

6. "Continuous Degradation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide to Sulfate Ion by Hyphomicrobium denitrificans WU-K217", J. Biosci. Bioeng., 94,52-56 (2002).

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