Construction of the new method for amino acid racemase screening using amino acid auxotrophic E. coli

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07152
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: uda kouji 高知大学, 教育研究部自然科学系理工学部門, 講師 (10448392)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: D-アミノ酸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recently, it has been reported that D-amino acids were found in many animals and have various physiological functions. Additionally, D-amino acids are known to be synthesized by the amino acid racemase. In this study, we isolated the amino acid racemases by novel screening method using the amino acid auxotrophic E. coli. Furthermore, we searched homologues of amino acid racemase from GenBank DNA sequence databases. Subsequently, the enzyme activity of these amino acid racemase genes was confirmed using a recombinant enzymes. This study revealed that serine racemase and aspartate racemase are widely distributed in the animal kingdom.

Free Research Field

比較生化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年，哺乳類において，D-アミノ酸が様々な生理機能をもつことが明らかとなってきたが，それ以外の動物における生理機能は殆ど明らかになっていない。本研究では，動物界の主要な動物門全てにおいて，セリンラセマーゼ及びアスパラギン酸ラセマーゼが存在することを示した。このことは，動物界においてD-セリンやD-アスパラギン酸が広く合成され，動物において重要かつ普遍的な生理機能を持つことを示唆した。今後はD-アミノ酸の普遍的な生理機能に関する研究が進むことが期待される。