USAMI Atsushi

Research fields

Bioengineering
Entomology
Nanobioscience
Biofunction

Research Interests

Biocatalysts
Nanocarbon
Insects
Biotransformation

Professional Memberships

The Chemical Society of Japan
Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology
The Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan

Main research topics

Many functional molecules are in-flask produced, and a various reactions and catalysts have been developed and utilized. However, the synthesis of molecules that require regio- and stereo-selectivity and functional group specificity has become a severe cost and waste problem due to the multistep process. The development of new reactions and systems to solve these problems is an urgent issue. Meanwhile, highly selective chemical reactions by biocatalysts (enzymes) have developed and evolved independently in the fields of biosynthesis and metabolism of xenobiotics, and these biological functions are regarded as a different field from synthetic organic chemistry, and their positive utilization has been lagging. This research is to integrate the field of functional organic material synthesis with ” bio-based transformation and synthesis technology” to develop a new chemical space unique to biological functions, which is difficult to achieve through organic synthesis. First, we will construct a mutant library of enzyme proteins involved in the transformation of materials by insects for use as biocatalysts, and produce unexplored molecules. Next, we will comprehensively analyze the obtained results and generate artificial enzymes that maximize their functions. Finally, we will challenge the generation of new biocatalysts that will enable the activation of low and unused resources and the increase of plant production.
This research project aims to establish an environmental-friendly material production and resource recycling system in collaboration with researchers from various fields and industries.

Representative papers

Atsushi Usami, Masahito Ishikawa, and Katsutoshi Hori, “Gas-phase bioproduction of a high-value-added monoterpenoid (E)-geranic acid by metabolically engineered Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5,” Green Chem (2020) 22, 1258.
Atsushi Usami, Masahito Ishikawa, and Katsutoshi Hori, “Heterologous expression of geraniol dehydrogenase for identifying the metabolic pathways involved in the biotransformation of citral by Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5,” Biosci Biotechnol Biochem (2018) 82, 2012.

Research URL

researchmap　https://researchmap.jp/592vBhYD

Global issues to be solved through this project

Realization of resource-recycling manufacturing using the biological functions of insects

Many of the functional molecules are synthesized through in-flask production. However, the synthesis of desired molecules frequently involves multistep processes, leading to significant costs and waste management challenges. In contrast, biocatalysts (enzymes) enabling highly selective chemical reactions have developed and evolved within the fields of biosynthesis and xenobiotic metabolism. Therefore, by integrating “biologically-mediated molecular transformation and creation technology” into the field of functional molecule synthesis, there is potential to explore novel chemical spaces that are difficult to achieve through organic synthesis. Hence, this study focuses on utilizing insects as biocatalysts for molecular transformation, aiming to establish environmentally-friendly bioproduction and resource circulation systems.

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