Sachiko Tsukamoto,Yuki Hitora,Kei Toda

This research aims to isolate volatile organic compounds secreted by fungi, and evaluate their effects on plant pathogens, pests, and plants themselves in order to identify candidate agricultural pesticides.

Yuki Hitora,Sachiko Tsukamoto,
Takumi Higaki

This research aims to use image analysis and machine learning to screen for candidate health supplements from natural products that alleviates or prevents osteoporosis.

Takumi Higaki,Sachiko Tsukamoto,
Yuki Hitora

This research aims to discover compounds from natural resources that regulate plant cell growth, as candidate pesticides.

Mitsuhiro Aida,Shinya Hayami

The cells required for plant growth are formed in the apical meristems at the shoot and root tips. The cell division activities in these meristems are controlled by plant growth regulatory substances (phytohormones, etc.), which in turn affects other crop plant properties such as leaf, shoot and root developments, branching, and fruit/seed yields. This research project examines how the high surface area and adsorption-desorption properties of graphene oxide affect plant growth and phytohormone activities. Furthermore, the viability of graphene oxide as an antistripping agent during plant microscopy will be evaluated.

Takeshi Kitano,Tokio Tani,Takashi Ideue

Among farmed fishes, species such as eels and flounders produce females that grow faster than males, while others such as the tiger puffers produce male gonads that are highly valued. Therefore, there are strong incentives to produce single-sex populations in fish-farming (Fig. 1). The Kitano group has identified the fatty acid receptor PPARα to positively regulate male development, suggesting fatty acid plays a role in sexual determination. On the other hand, the Tani/Ideue group has identified one of the fatty acids, myristic acid to block the formation of intracellular structures called nuage uniquely found in reproductive cells (Fig. 2), though the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This research aims to determine the viability of using fatty acid to control sexual determination in farmed fishes, and the associated molecular mechanisms. The first steps include:
1. Determine which fatty acids promote male development when used to treat the model organism Japanese rice fish (Kitano group)
2. Determine which fatty acids affect nuage formation in insect cell culture, and characterize the molecular mechanisms of these activities (Tani/Ideue group)
With the effects of fatty acids in sexual determination delineated, their utility in fish-farming can then be evaluated.

Tokio Tani,Kei Toda,Takashi Ideue

We aim to commercialize the world’s first fission yeast-brewed liquor, by engineering Schizosaccharomyces japonicus strains with enhanced fragrance production to elevate the liquor’s flavor and scent complexity. The high ethyl caproate-producing strain Kumadai T-11 isolated by the Tani/Ideue group can be used to screen for more strains that produce other fragrances such as phenethyl alcohol and isoamyl acetate. These strains will then be analyzed by the Toda group’s gas chromatography for scent composition, to select for strains suitable for liquor-brewing. Candidate strains will be tested at the Kumamoto Industrial Research Institute to finalize strain selection. By collaborating with Kumamoto local breweries, we aim to commercialize liquors brewed using these novel fission yeast strains.

Takuro Niidome,Takeshi Kitano

Female farmed eels and flounders are more profitable than their male counterparts, and the control of sexual determination will be a key technique for fish farming. Kitano's group has characterized sexual determination mechanism using the model fish, Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), and has identified a fatty acid receptor PPAR involved in sexual determination. Niidome's group has developed a technique for transgenic silk worms to express proteins in silk worm larvae, pupae and cocoons. This research aims to develop fish feeds composed of silk worm that control sexual determination in farmed fishes. Preliminary objectives include:
1. Examine whether silk worm larvae and pupae can be served as feeds for Japanese medaka, either in paste or dried powder forms.
2. Evaluate whether sexual determination of Japanese medaka can be controlled by fatty acids known to affect sexual development added to the feeds.

Shinya Hayami,Shinichiro Sawa

Water is an extremely important resource in arid environments. Effective use of limited water is critical not only for human living conditions, but also crop production in dry areas. Specifically, water retention is an important point for agriculture with limited water. Since soil water retention capacities are finite, application of moisturizer as soil conditioners may be a viable strategy to improve water retention. Currently we are developing practical uses of absorbent polymers, and we propose using graphene oxide as a soil water retention agent.

Takumi Higaki,Yuki Hitora,
Sachiko Tsukamoto

Stomata are tiny pores on the surface of plant leaves and stems, and their opening state is tightly regulated in response to the environment.
In this study, we aim to identify plant growth regulators with low environmental impacts (bio-stimulants) using intracellular localization of stomata regulatory proteins as markers, by making combining our expertise in natural compounds and image analysis.

Takeshi Kitano,Takuro Niidome

Prof. Kitano has reported that when medaka hatchlings experience oxidative stress, genetically female individuals masculinize, and this effect is negated by a cysteine derivative. On the other hand, this cysteine derivative was also shown to be a powerful antioxidant. Furthermore, Prof. Niidome is now synthesizing various sulfur compounds to act as future screening candidates.

In this study, sulfur compounds synthesized by Prof. Niidome were tested on medaka for their effects on sexual differentiation and redox state (glutathione level) in fishes. This research can be applied in aquaculture to selectively produce females, which have higher market values than males.

Research tasks breakdown:
1. Sulfur compound synthesis (Niidome)
2. Sulfur compounds treatments of medaka, female differentiation rate evaluations (Kitano)

Yuki Hitora,Sachiko Tsukamoto,
Douyan Wang,Takao Namihira, andTakumi Higaki

Fungi produce a variety of useful compounds such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemical products, and functional ingredients. In addition, fungal metabolites can strongly influence plant growth and are expected to have great potential in agriculture.

Pulsed power is a form of energy released instantaneously, and is used in a wide range of research. Pulsed power stimulation has been reported to increase shiitake mushroom production, thus may enhance fungal growth and metabolism.

This study aims to develop technologies to increase the synthesis of fungi-derived useful compounds through pulsed power.

Mitsuhiro Aida,Masashi Toda,Takumi Higaki

We aim to develope imaging methods for quantitative evaluation of leaf traits, applying this method to perform functional analyses of genes involved in leaf development.

Tokio Tani,Takumi Higaki

In this joint research project, wild yeast strains found in the Kumamoto prefecture will be collected from fruits, flowers, plants, and soil to construct a local yeast library. We will establish a novel, rapid yeast classification and identification workflow by linking cell morphology with rRNA sequence information. This Kumamoto local regional yeast library can potentially identify useful yeast strains that contribute to the brewing and fermentation industry.