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Biocatalytic Chemistry Lab
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A biocatalysis lab that discovers and elucidates new enzymes from microorganisms and plants.
AboutAbout the lab
Uncovering the chemical principles of life through enzymes
The Biocatalytic Chemistry Lab focuses on the metabolic pathways of bioactive substances produced by microorganisms and plants, aiming to understand the chemical principles of life phenomena in nature.
The lab discovers new enzymes that catalyze chemical transformations that are difficult to achieve with synthetic organic chemistry reactions, and studies the mechanisms of those reactions in detail.
Based on the principles of catalysis, the lab also aims to develop practical biocatalysts that outperform natural enzymes.
On the lab's website, it is also introduced under the name “Ushimaru Lab.”
Key terms
- Biocatalyst
- Something, such as an enzyme, that uses the action of living organisms to drive chemical reactions. It is also used in chemical synthesis
- Metabolic pathway
- The route by which a substance in a living organism is converted, one step after another, into other substances through the action of enzymes
- Radical
- A highly reactive atom or molecule with an unpaired electron
NewsLab news
An undergraduate student wins an Excellent Poster Presentation Award at Kyushu University Chemistry Festa 2026
Associate Professor Ushimaru wins the Hamada Award of the Society for Actinomycetes Japan for FY2026
A paper from the lab is published in JACS
Associate Professor Ushimaru wins the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Young Scientists' Prize) for FY2026
Associate Professor Ushimaru wins the Nagase Research Promotion Award for FY2026
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to understand the chemical principles of life phenomena in nature and to contribute to solving social problems. Focusing on the metabolic pathways of bioactive substances produced by microorganisms and plants, it works on discovering new enzymes and elucidating their reaction mechanisms.
*Illustrative imageSearching for new biosynthetic pathways
Focusing on natural products with unique biological activity and chemical structures, the lab searches for new biosynthetic pathways. Building on bioinformatics and organic chemistry, it works on discovering unknown enzymes and new types of chemical reactions.
*Illustrative imageElucidating the mechanisms of enzyme reactions
Chemical synthesis using enzymes is attracting attention as a method that combines high selectivity with environmental compatibility. With drug discovery and the development of practical biocatalysts in view, the lab studies the mechanisms of previously unexplored reactions that proceed via radicals and reactions involving polynuclear metal complexes.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Biocatalytic Chemistry Lab are faculty members, a visiting professor, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and research students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorRichiro Ushimaru
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Plantes médicinales planche 1 - Medicinal plants, medical herbs, botanical illustrations, plate 1 - Public domain illustration from Larousse du XXème siècle 1932” EN NOIR & BLANC / CC0 (cropped)
- Searching for new biosynthetic pathways: “Streptomyces hygroscopicus” Snuupo / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Elucidating the mechanisms of enzyme reactions: “Structure of reverse gyrase from Thermotoga maritima” Ryan J. Catchpole / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (生物有機化学研究室): “Biology apparatus” Abdsomod / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab
(動的生命化学研究室): “Fluorescence from Fluorescent Proteins” Erin Rod / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (ナノ機能化学研究室): “Energy Vault Test Tower 2021” Caumasee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (量子化学研究室): “Electric Propulsion Laboratory Vacuum Chamber (GRC-1964-C-70481)” NASA Glenn Research Center / Public domain (cropped)
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