Distribution and function of D-amino acid and amino acid racemase in animals

• Project/Area Number: 24770068
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: Uda Kouji 高知大学, 自然科学系, 講師 (10448392)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000)
• Keywords: D-アミノ酸 / アミノ酸ラセマーゼ / d-アミノ酸 / ラセマーゼ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Free D-amino acids are widely distributed in living organisms, from bacteria to mammals, and play a key role in specific physiological functions. In invertebrates, D-Ser, D-Asp, D-Ala and D-Arg have been found in various phyla species, and play important physiological roles. In contrast to the wide distribution of D-amino acids, amino acid racemase genes have been identified in few invertebrate species. We searched the nucleotide, EST, and SRA databases, and found 11 serine racemase homologous genes from eight invertebrate phyla species. The cloned genes were identified based on their maximum activity as serine racemase (SerR) and aspartate racemase (AspR). Our results revealed that SerR and AspR are more widely distributed among invertebrates than previously thought.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Phosphagen kinase in Schistosoma japonicum: II. Determination of amino acid residues essential for substrate catalysis using site-directed mutagenesis. (2014)
  • Author(s): Tokuhiro S, Nagataki M, Jarilla BR, Uda K, Suzuki T, Sugiura T, Agatsuma T.
  • Journal Title: Mol Biochem Parasitol. Volume: 194 Issue: 1-2 Pages: 56-63
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.04.010
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Two arginine kinases of Tetrahymena pyriformis: characterization and localization. (2014)
  • Author(s): Michibata, J., Okazaki, N., Motomura, S., Uda, K., Fujiwara, S. and Suzuki, T.
  • Journal Title: Comp. Biochem. Physiol. Part B. Volume: 171 Pages: 34-41
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2014.03.008
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] The role of Y84 on domain 1 and Y87 on domain 2 of Paragonimus westermani taurocyamine kinase: Insights on the substrate binding mechanism of a trematode phosphagen kinase. (2013)
  • Author(s): Jarilla BR, Tokuhiro S, Nagataki M, Uda K, Suzuki T, Acosta LP, Agatsuma T.
  • Journal Title: Exp Parasitol. Volume: 135 Issue: 4 Pages: 695-700
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.10.008
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Gene structure of the two-domain taurocyamine kinase from Paragonimus westermani: Evidence for a distinct lineage of trematode phosphagen kinases (2013)
  • Author(s): Jarilla B R, Tokuhiro S, Nagataki M, Uda K, Suzuki T, Acosta L P, Agatsuma T.
  • Journal Title: FEBS Letters Volume: 567 Issue: 14 Pages: 2278-2283
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.05.061
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Complete mitochondrial genomes of the Japanese pink coral (Corallium elatius) and the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum): A reevaluation of the phylogeny of the family Coralliidae based on molecular data (2013)
  • Author(s): Uda K, Komeda Y, Fujita T, Iwasaki N, Bavestrello G, Giovine M, Cattaneo-Vietti R, Suzuki T.
  • Journal Title: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - Part D: Genomics and Proteomics Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Pages: 209-219
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2013.05.003
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Phosphagen kinase in Schistosoma japonicum: Characterization of its enzymatic properties and determination of its gene structure. (2013)
  • Author(s): Tokuhiro S, Uda K, Yano H, Nagataki M, Jarilla BR, Suzuki T, Agatsuma T.
  • Journal Title: Mol Biochem Parasitol. Volume: 188 Issue: 2 Pages: 91-98
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2013.04.001
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Characterization and origin of bacterial arginine kinases. (2013)
  • Author(s): Suzuki, T., Soga, S., Inoue, M. and Uda, K
  • Journal Title: Int. J. Biol. Macromol. Volume: 57 Pages: 273-277
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2013.02.023
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] A diverse array of creatine kinase and arginine kinase isoform genes is present in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, a cnidarian model system for studying developmental evolution. (2012)
  • Author(s): Uda K., Ellington WR, Suzuki T
  • Journal Title: Gene. Volume: 497 Issue: 2 Pages: 214-227
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.01.036
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AMINO ACID RACEMASE GENES FROM SEVERAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES (2014)
  • Author(s): Koji UDA, Keita ABE, Yoko DEHARA, Kiriko MIZOBATA, Natsumi SOGAWA, Yuki AKAGI
  • Organizer: The 2nd International Conference of D-Amino Acid Research
  • Place of Presentation: 栃木県総合文化センター
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-02 – 2014-09-05
• [Presentation] ウシエビに存在するアミノ酸ラセマーゼ遺伝子の単離と機能解析 (2014)
  • Author(s): 安部啓太，宇田幸司
  • Organizer: 中国四国地区生物系三学会合同大会
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山理科大学
  • Year and Date: 2014-05-10
• [Presentation] プラナリア・アスパラギン酸ラセマーゼ遺伝子の 単離と機能解析
  • Author(s): 宇田幸司，出原陽子，安部啓太，西願麻以，曽川菜摘，赤木勇貴，溝端 キリコ，山城由也
  • Organizer: 日本動物学会第84回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 岡山大学津島キャンパス
• [Presentation] テトラヒメナに存在するセリンラセマーゼの酵素機能解析
  • Author(s): 山城由也，西願麻以，鈴木知彦，宇田幸司
  • Organizer: 中国四国地区生物系三学会合同大会（徳島大会）
  • Place of Presentation: 徳島大学常三島キャンパス
• [Presentation] テトラヒメナに存在する セリンラセマーゼホモログの酵素機能解析
  • Author(s): 山城由也，西願麻以，鈴木知彦，宇田幸司
  • Organizer: 日本動物学会第83回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪大学（大阪府）