教員紹介

OKINO Nozomu

Profile

Outline Activities

We have been conducting research from the viewpoint of utilization of marine bioresources, and among them, we are particularly interested in the search for and utilization of enzymes that metabolize carbohydrates and lipids in marine organisms and microorganisms. As a major result, we found that the enzyme ceramidase, which had previously been reported only in mammals, exists in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a famous opportunistic pathogen, and succeeded in purification, gene cloning, and solving the 3D structure. Bacterial-type glycosphingolipids found in sponges are known to activate natural killer T cells in humans and mice, but there was no information on the enzyme responsible for their synthesis. Recently, we have succeeded in gene cloning of bacterial glycosphingolipid synthases and are now investigating the biological functions and utilization of bacterial glycosphingolipids.

Message

There are unique environments in ocean, and among the organisms that inhabit it, there are those that produce a variety of useful substances. Among the useful substances produced by marine organisms, we focus on highly unsaturated fatty acids and glycolipids. Join us and study on the effective utilization of marine biological resources.

Educational Activities

Undergraduate School

Marine Microbiology II
Marine Resource Chemistry I, II

Graduate School

Marine Bioscience