Experimental Course in Molecular Biotechnology2

Numbering Code G-AGR07 6GC24 EJ79 Year/Term 2022 ・ Year-round
Number of Credits 6 Course Type Experiment
Target Year Target Student
Language Japanese Day/Period
Instructor name HASHIMOTO WATARU (Graduate School of Agriculture Professor)
TAKASE RYUICHI (Graduate School of Agriculture Assistant Professor)
OIKI SAYOKO (Graduate School of Agriculture Assistant Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course This experimental course aims to promote better understanding of molecular biotechnology and to give some experimental techniques regarding conversion of biological functions. The techniques include (i) molecular biology through gene cloning, protein expression and purification, (ii) structural biology such as X-ray crystallography and microscopy, and (iii) synthetic biology by genetic, protein, and metabolic engineering.
Course Goals Acquire the knowledge and experimental techniques necessary to convert biological functions at the levels of the organism, the cell or the molecule. At the same time, develop the skills to generate original ideas and to consider the key components of a research paper, including logic, organization and style.
Schedule and Contents This course will provide students with the most current knowledge and research techniques to convert biological functions with a focus on the following topics:

1. The correlation between the structures and functions of microbial cell surfaces
  Structural biology related to the molecular mechanisms of the transport of solutes and signals

2. Functional modifications and chemical changes in biomolecules
  Molecular evolution of the cell’s energy carriers, genes and proteins (enzymes)

3. Microbial ecosystems
  Molecular response to nitrogen and oxygen stress; bio fuel production using methods in synthetic biology.

4. Structural biology of biopolymer
  X-ray crystallography of biopolymer, in particular polysaccharide-related enzymes and transporters

5. Metabolic engineering, process engineering, the biology of engineering purification and regeneration
  Molecular breeding of microbes; control and metabolic engineering of microbial cellular functions
Evaluation Methods and Policy  1. Attitude toward research;
 2. Quality of research results
Refer to '2017 Guide to Degree Programs' for attainment levels of evaluation
Course Requirements  It is desirable, although not required, that students have taken Microbiology in their undergraduate studies.
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) Collect the most current information related to the conversion of biological functions, and situate the outcome of your experiments in the context of previously published studies. In particular, make a list of unresolved or unexplained issues and strive to clarify them through your experiments.
References, etc. Applied Microbiology from a Genetic Perspective., Kumagai, H., Kato, N., Murata, K, and Sakai, Y. (Eds.)., (Asakura Publishing Co., Ltd.), ISBN:978-4-254-43097-4.
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