Nagoya University

Graduate Program of Transformative Chem-Bio Research

EVENTS

GTR Seminar

Abstract:
Archaea are phylogenetically distinct to bacteria and eukaryotes and
represent the third domain of life. Archaea, like bacteria, are prokaryotes
and both share common features such as the use of polycistronic gene
expression. They however also display stark differences in the structure of
their membrane lipids and machinery involved in DNA replication and
transcription. Archaea also utilize metabolic enzymes and pathways
that differ to their counterparts in bacteria and eukaryotes. Based
on the archaeal genome sequences, there are many cases in which metabolic
pathways established in bacteria and eukaryotes seem to be absent or
incomplete. There are also cases in which predicted enzymes apparently
do not have metabolic links to other enzymes. Our strategy is to search
for enzymes or pathways that replace the "missing" enzymes or function
with the "lonely" enzymes.
We have been focused on the metabolism of the hyperthermophilic
archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. This archaeon was isolated from
Kodakara Island, Japan, and displays an optimal growth temperature of
85˚C. It is an obligate anaerobe and heterotroph. Genome sequencing
revelaed that the T. kodakarensis genome consists of 2,088,737 bp and
contains a predicted 2,306 genes. We have also developed an efficient
genetic system in this archaeon, enabling us to evaluate the roles of
genes in vivo. The organism provides an ideal opportunity to study
archaeal metabolism through the strategies mentioned above. Here I
will introduce some of the enzymes and pathways unique to Archaea
along with the strategies used for their identification

Language: English
Apply:Here (Dead line:Dec.13. Send online reception information to registered)

Contact:Hideo NAKANO(hnakano<at>agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp (<at>→@)

★GTR international students only
This seminar is "GTR Lecture series on multidisciplinary problems (1pt)".Grades will be judged by questions and answers during the seminar.
Enroll in gtr e-portfolio (Dead line: Dec.13).