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Cellular Function Engineering Lab
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A lab that explores, at the molecular level, how microorganisms produce amino acids and natural products.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling microbial metabolism from the molecular level
The Cellular Function Engineering Lab studies the mechanisms behind the useful capabilities of microorganisms at the molecular level, including proteins and genes.
The lab also conducts applied research that uses its findings to further enhance useful functions and to produce more useful enzymes and compounds.
It combines a wide range of methods, from natural product chemistry and molecular biology to protein engineering and X-ray crystallography.
Its research targets diverse microorganisms, including thermophiles, actinomycetes, and Corynebacterium.
Key terms
- Thermophile
- A bacterium that thrives in high-temperature environments such as hot springs. Its enzymes are also heat-resistant.
- Carrier protein
- A protein that holds and protects unstable intermediates formed during a reaction and passes them on to the next reaction.
- X-ray crystallography
- A method that directs X-rays at a crystallized protein to determine the arrangement of its atoms (its three-dimensional structure).
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received an Excellent Presentation Award at the Gram-Positive Bacteria Genome Function Meeting
A master's student received an Excellent Presentation Award at the Kanto Branch Meeting of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
A paper on a glutamate transporter was accepted by J Biosci Bioeng
Assistant Professor Yoshida received the JSBBA Award for Young Scientists from the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
A paper on the biosynthesis of natural products from Bacillus bacteria was published in JACS
ResearchResearch themes
The lab focuses on the various useful capabilities of living organisms and aims to uncover the universal principles of life behind them at the molecular level, including proteins and genes. Drawing on these results, it also conducts research to create more useful enzymes and compounds.
*Illustrative imageAmino Acid Biosynthesis Pathways and Their Evolution
The lab discovered that a thermophile synthesizes lysine via the AAA (α-aminoadipate) pathway, the first such case found in bacteria. By examining the function and structure of the enzymes in this pathway, it aims to clarify how enzymes and metabolic systems have evolved.
*Illustrative imageNatural Products Made with Carrier Proteins
The lab discovered that, in lysine synthesis, a carrier protein carries the reaction forward while protecting unstable intermediates. Similar mechanisms exist in actinomycetes, and by elucidating them, the lab aims to produce new useful compounds.
*Illustrative imageProtein Acylation
The lab discovered that modifications such as acetylation on bacterial proteins change depending on nutrient conditions. Using Corynebacterium and Bacillus subtilis, it investigates how these modifications affect cellular functions.
*Illustrative imageEnzyme Regulation Through Interactions
The lab determines the crystal structures of enzymes involved in amino acid synthesis and investigates how their activity is regulated. Focusing on interactions between metabolic enzymes and other proteins, it searches for new regulatory mechanisms.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Cellular Function Engineering Lab consist of faculty, postdocs, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMakoto NishiyamaPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorKosono SaoriPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorAyako YoshidaPublications ↗
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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: “Streptomyces hygroscopicus” Snuupo / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Amino Acid Biosynthesis Pathways and Their Evolution: “3M9S NADH Dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus” Zephyris / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Natural Products Made with Carrier Proteins: “Streptomyces griseus on chocolate agar (Espinoza 2022)” Carlos Espinoza, Pedro Morales, Brenda Perez, Alvaro Huaca, Alejandra Céspedes ほか
/ CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Protein Acylation: “Bacillus subtilis colonies” Korinna / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Enzyme Regulation Through Interactions: “Lüsosüümi kristallid pv” Taavi.Ivan / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Enzymology Lab): “Lysozyme crystals” Ilyassova Bayan / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biological Information Engineering Lab): “Dynamic simulation screenshot” Jih24 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Organic Chemistry Lab): “Coloured column chromatography ( )” Максим Фомич / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Nutrition and Life Sciences Lab): “Human iPS cells colonies” Christine Hale, Amy Yeung, David Goulding, Derek Pickard, Kaur Alasoo, Fiona Powrie, Gordon Dougan ほか
（PLOS ONE） / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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