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Fermentation Microbiology Lab
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A lab investigating how actinomycetes change their form and how they build compounds that can become drugs.
AboutAbout the lab
Starting from curiosity about unknown biological phenomena.
The Fermentation Microbiology Lab studies the diverse biological phenomena exhibited by microorganisms.
In particular, it focuses on actinomycetes, soil bacteria that produce antibiotics and other compounds, and examines the mechanisms behind their morphological changes and compound production.
The lab searches for new biosynthetic enzymes for compounds made by microorganisms, investigates how they work, and also takes on the production of useful substances.
It is a lab committed to originality in research and to carrying out experiments thoroughly.
Key terms
- Actinomycetes
- A group of bacteria that live in places such as soil. They grow as hyphae, form spores, and produce antibiotics and other compounds.
- Secondary metabolites
- Distinctive substances that are not essential for an organism to live. Antibiotics and pigments are typical examples.
- Cryo-electron microscope
- An instrument that observes frozen samples with an electron microscope to determine the three-dimensional structures of proteins and other molecules.
NewsLab news
Published a paper showing that protein degradation is involved in the morphological differentiation of rare actinomycetes
Paper on the discovery and functional analysis of a high-performance diazo group-synthesizing enzyme published in JACS
Paper elucidating the reaction mechanism of an enzyme that nitrates tyrosine published in JACS
Doctoral and master's students received an award at the Global Innovation Workshop
Published a paper on the search for hidden protein–protein interactions in biosynthetic gene clusters
ResearchResearch themes
The lab elucidates diverse biological phenomena exhibited by microorganisms using a range of approaches, including genetic engineering, biochemistry, structural biology, and computational science. Centering on the morphological differentiation of actinomycetes and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites made by microorganisms, it also conducts applied research such as the production of useful substances.
*Illustrative imageMorphological Differentiation and Secondary Metabolism in Actinomycetes
In actinomycetes, which grow as hyphae and form spores, the lab investigates the mechanisms that control morphological change and the production of antibiotics and other compounds. It also studies the complex life cycle of rare actinomycetes, in which they swim out of sporangia.
*Illustrative imageDiscovery of New Biosynthetic Enzymes
The lab finds new enzymes that produce secondary metabolites using two approaches: starting from compounds with unique structures, and searching genome information for genes that have been overlooked.
*Illustrative imageHow Biosynthetic Enzymes Work
Using site-directed mutagenesis, X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and other methods, the lab investigates at the molecular level how biosynthetic enzymes carry out their reactions.
*Illustrative imageProduction of Useful Substances by Microorganisms
The lab researches producing raw materials for new drugs and for polymers using microorganisms. In a collaborative study, it showed that a plastic with excellent heat resistance can be made from plant-derived raw materials.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Fermentation Microbiology Lab consist of faculty, JSPS Research Fellows, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, interns, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorYasuo OhnishiPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorYohei KatsuyamaPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorKazuki NoshoPublications ↗
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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 griseus on chocolate agar (Espinoza 2022)” Carlos Espinoza, Pedro Morales, Brenda Perez, Alvaro Hu / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Morphological Differentiation and Secondary Metabolism in Actinomycetes: “Actinoplanes teichomyceticus Wink et al. 2006” Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Discovery of New Biosynthetic Enzymes: “Miracle Flowers” Tetyana Yana-t Petruk / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- How Biosynthetic Enzymes Work: “Human XPR1 in complex with InsP7” Caorain / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Production of Useful Substances by Microorganisms: “Plastic pellets for injection molding” Teemeah / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell Genetics Lab): “Aspergillus nidulans” Plasmidmap / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Breeding Lab): “20241028-R9HMNF-CB-001 Leafy ground” usfs_Eastern_Region / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Applied Microbiology Lab): “Colonie batteriche o vita marina?” Chiara.marraccini / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Biochemistry Lab): “House mouse (Mus musculus) 2732” Ahunt / CC0 (cropped)
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