Enzyme Research Team

"Enzyme Research Team", one of the core research laboratories of Biomass Engineering Program, aims to search for, create and develop "new functional enzymes" as well as "new microorganisms to contain the developed enzyme" based on relationship between structures and functions of biopolymer synthases. The final goal of the laboratory is to design and develop the novel functional synthases for practical and industrial uses to produce biopolymers such as poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) and polyamide (polypeptide) polymers.

Research Fields

Engineering / Chemistry / Materials Sciences / Biology & Biochemistry / Molecular Biology & Genetics / Agricultural Sciences / Plant & Animal Science / Microbiology / Environment & Ecology

Research Subjects

• 3D structures and polymerization mechanisms of biopolymer synthases.
• Searches & developments of microorganisms, polymerases, and depolymerases.
• Design and biosynthesis of bioinspired functional peptides.
• Biopolymer production via plants biotechnologys.

Publications

1. Numata, K ., Motoda, Y ., Watanabe, S ., Tochio, N ., Kigawa, T ., and Doi, Y.:
   "Active Intermediates of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthase from Aeromonas caviae in Polymerization Reaction"
   Biomacromolecules 13, 3450-3455 (2012).
2. Numata, K., Yamazaki, S ., and Naga, N.:
   "Biocompatible and Biodegradable Dual-Drug Release System Based on Silk Hydrogel Containing Silk Nanoparticles"
   Biomacromolecules 13 , 1383-1389 (2012).
3. Baker, J ., and Numata, K.:
   "Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Poly(L-alanine) in Aqueous Environment"
   Biomacromolecules 13 , 947-951 (2012).
4. Numata, K., and Doi, Y.:
   "Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanaotes by a Novel Facultatively Anaerobic Vibrio sp under Marine Conditions"
   Marine Biotechnol. 14 , 323-331 (2012).
5. Yamada, M., Takahashi, S., Okahata, Y., Doi, Y., and Numata, K. :
   "Monitoring and Kinetic Analysis of the Molecular Interactions by which a Repressor Protein, PhaR, Binds to Target DNAs and Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]"
   AMB express, in press.
6. Lakshmanan, M., Kodama, Y., Yoshizumi, T., Sudesh, K., and Numata, K. :
   "Rapid and Efficient Gene Delivery into Plant Cells Using Designed Peptide Carriers"
   Biomacromolecules 14, 1, 10-16 (2013).
7. Chuah, J.-A., Yamada, M., Taguchi, S., Kumar, S., Doi, Y., and Numata, K. :
   "Biosynthesis and Characterization of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Containing 5-Hydroxyvalerate (5HV) Units: Effects of 5HV Units on Biodegradability, Cytotoxicity, Mechanical and Thermal Properties"
   Polymer Degradation and Stability, 98, 1, 331-338 (2013).
8. Numata, K., Katashima, T., and Sakai., T. :
   "The State of Water, Molecular Structure and Cytotoxicity of Silk Hydrogels"
   Biomacromolecules 12, 6, 2137-44 (2011).
9. Numata, K., and Doi., Y.:
   "Dual Biosyntheses of Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] and Silk Protein to Fabricate Bio-functional Bioplastic"
   Polymer J. 43, 642-647 (2011). (Selected as a Featured Article, Top3 Downloaded Article in July 2011).
10. Numata, K.,* Morisaki, K., Tomizawa, S., Ohtani, M., Demura, T., Miyazaki, M., Nogi, Y., Deguchi, S., and Doi., Y.:
    “Synthesis of Poly- and Oligo(hydroxyalkanoate)s by Deep-Sea Bacteria, Colwellia spp., Moritella spp. and Shewanella spp”
    Polymer J., in press.