Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory (Senji Takahashi Laboratory)
The laboratory is one of the chemistry laboratories, and we collect soil and specific types of plants from various regions with different environments throughout the country. We isolate and preserve various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes that inhabit those environments. From the culture fluid, we search for substances that lead to pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, such as skin-whitening agents, substances effective against pests and diseases in plants and animals, and substances effective against infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. We conduct research primarily aimed at elucidating the structure and biosynthetic pathways of the discovered substances. In lectures, I teach introductory chemistry and basic organic chemistry for first-year students, organic chemistry 2 for second-year students, microbial pharmaceutical chemistry for third-year students, and microbial pharmaceutical chemistry for graduate students. Through these lectures, I hope students will be able to deepen their understanding of the structure and properties of substances.
Basic Information
Faculty name/Affiliation
Senji Takahashi / Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering
Exploration of melanin production inhibitors from microorganisms oriented toward skin whitening.
Melanin in human skin is produced by melanocytes located in the basal layer of the epidermis. When melanocytes are stimulated by excessive ultraviolet radiation, large amounts of melanin are produced. Prolonged excessive production of melanin that remains activated in the skin can cause not only cosmetic pigment disorders such as blemishes and freckles, but also malignant tumors such as melanoma, which is a significant problem in skin pathology, and there is a demand for drugs to improve these conditions. Research has been conducted to search for various melanin synthesis inhibitors from microbial metabolites, but compounds with the expected inhibitory effects for practical use have not been obtained. In this study, we aim to discover new melanin synthesis inhibitors in a screening system that measures inhibitory activity of tyrosinase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme for melanin formation, and the melanin formation inhibition effect on B16 mouse melanoma cells (B16-2D2).
Physiological function of jasmonic acid in microorganisms
Identification of jasmonic acid derivatives in microorganisms has been reported in plant pathogenic fungi such as Gibberella fujikuroi and Botrytis cinerea, which are jasmonate producers. However, there are few reports on other microorganisms. In this study, we are attempting to identify jasmonic acid derivatives in parasitic fungi, such as entomopathogenic fungi and Cordyceps fungi, which have diverse and useful secondary metabolites, but different growth environments. After confirming the identification of jasmonic acid derivatives, we aim to explore the relationship between secondary metabolites and jasmonic acid by searching for jasmonic acid biosynthesis inhibitors and administering exogenous jasmonic acid using these jasmonate-producing fungi.
Search for novel bioactive substances from parasitic filamentous fungi
Insects are parasitized by microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria. Among these, fungi are known to parasitize a variety of insects and cause diseases. Most of the insect parasitic fungi have been identified as imperfect fungi, with several hundred species reported to date. Insect parasitic fungi are expected to be useful in the research of microbial pesticides and the exploration of new insecticidal compounds, as they parasitize insects and exhibit pathogenicity. Several immunosuppressive compounds have been discovered from the metabolites of insect parasitic fungi. These compounds were not intentionally screened for targeting insect parasitic fungi but were discovered through screening processes of soil microorganisms. However, these microorganisms that grow in the insect body, produce various secondary metabolites, and exhibit insecticidal activity, are attracting attention as a resource for exploring new biologically active compounds.
Introducing the FacultyThis section introduces details about the research and the passionate thoughts around the research.
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