Current Research Topics :

Antifreeze protein - from structural basis to technological applications - : Antifreeze protein (AFP) initially isolated from the blood serum of Antarctic fish by Art DeVries in 1969 is an extraordinary bio-molecule that specifically binds to ice and cell. We have been examined the structure-function relationship of various AFPs by employing advanced techniques from molecular biology to structural biology (NMR and X-ray), and also have been trying to develop a method to obtain a massive amount of natural and recombinant AFPs to realize their practical use. Our AFPs were mostly discovered from Japanese organisms, especially the edible fishes available in general food markets. Currently, several AFP-utilizing technologies are under development so as to apply them in industrial and medical fields (AIST selected grant for Technology Innovation, 2008~).

Education and Research Background :

1992 Ph.D. of Science (supervised by Prof. Hikichi, K), HU, JAPAN. "Developments of two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) NMR pulse sequences and their applications for the structure-function analysis of a protein, rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C".

1987 M.Sc. (Polymer Science course), Faculty of Science, HU, JAPAN. "¹H-NMR study of rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C in the apo- and Ca²⁺-bound states".

1985 B.Sc. (Polymer Science course), Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University (HU), JAPAN. "Molecular dynamics analysis of poly L-Ornithine and poly L-Arginine by employing NMR relaxation experiments".

Employment and Research Experience :

2024- Academic researcher, Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, JAPAN. "Structural analysis of new materials with using Solid-state NMR spectroscopy".

2022- Specially appointed researcher, Graduate school of frontier sciences, UTokyo, JAPAN. "Exploration of a new material for cryotechnology".

2012 Chief senior researcher, Bioproduction Research Institute, AIST, JAPAN. "Antifreeze protein, Low-temperature biotechnology, Cell-preservation mechanism".

2003- Professor of Faculty of Life Science, HU.

2001 Group Leader, Functional Protein Research Group, Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), JAPAN. *re-organized from HNIRI. "Antifreeze protein, Low-temperature biotechnology, Cell-preservation mechanism".

1995 Senior Researcher, Hokkaido Natl. Indust. Res. Institute (HNIRI), MITI, JAPAN. "Low-temperature biochemistry, Functional protein analysis with NMR and X-ray".

1994 NMR Technical adviser, JEOL, Co.Ltd., JAPAN. "Development of macro-programs to Fourier Transform JEOL 2D- and 3D-NMR data of a biomolecule for its structural determination".

1993 Postdoctoral fellow in University of Alberta (Brian Sykes Lab.), CANADA. "Analysis of ¹H/¹³C/¹⁵N heteronuclear 3D-NMR spectra for structural elucidation of a protein".

1988 Teaching profession of High-Resolution NMR Lab., HU, JAPAN. "Developments of multi-dimensional NMR pulse sequence".