TOKYO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Department of Biological Sciences
Laboratories
Molecular Neuroscience
Neurobiology
Developmental Programs
Cellular Genetics
Molecular Genetics
Plant Hormone Mechanism
Cellular Biochemistry
Stemcell Regeneration
Evolutionary Genetics
Plant Photoregulation
Cell Energetics
Environmental Microbiology
Animal Ecology
Plant Ecology
Systematic Zoology
Systematic Botany
Photo Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
Microorganisms (bacteria and archaea) are responsible for material cycling and environmental conservation in our planet. We will clarify the ecophysiological roles of microorganisms in the soil and hydrosphere and explore their possible application in urban areas. We have special interests in the dynamics and functions of photosynthetic bacteria and other bacteria interacting with them in the environment. We are trying to understand microbial ecosystems by integrating individual microbial relationships into microbial networks as well as by elucidating the ecophysiology of each microbe.
Dr. Satoshi Hanada, a member of the Microbial and Genetic Resources Research Group of the Institute for Biological Resources and Functions in the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), studies with us as a visiting associate professor.
Faculty
Prof
Katsumi Matsuura
e-mail
matsuura-katsumi@tmu.ac.jp
Asc Prof
Shin Haruta
e-mail
sharuta@tmu.ac.jp
Population dynamics of photosynthetic bacteria in the environment
1. Distribution, species composition and their changes due to environmental conditions for photosynthetic bacteria in the soil and hydrosphere (main measuring methods are the detection and sequencing of photosynthetic genes).
2. Functions of photosynthetic bacteria for material cycling and interactions with other bacteria in the soil and hydrosphere (main measuring methods are measurement of oxidation-reduction reaction and mixed culture with various bacteria).
3. Evolution of photosynthetic bacteria and their photosynthetic functions (genetic analysis, comparative molecular biology on many species including new species and reproduction of the process of evolution via genetic manipulation).
Population dynamics of microbial communities in microbial mats and evolution of material cycling functions
Microbial mats are developed in hot waters from springs. Biogeochemical material cycling is observed in the microbial mats. Studies on microbial communities in the mats will be useful to understand the formation and conservation of the earthfs environment.
1. Composition and spatial distribution of microorganisms in the microbial mats
2. Material cycling functions within the microbial mats and their biogeochemical significance.
3. Developing mechanisms of microbial mats.
Characterization of microbial communities determined by species-species or cell-cell interactions
Physiological characteristics of microorganisms are affected by various environmental factors in nature. Various species of microorganisms exist by interacting each other in microbial ecosystems. Interspecies relationships, including promoting and suppressive effects, lead to complex microbial networks. We will clarify developing mechanisms of microbial communities and material cycling functions of the communities.
1. Ecophysiology of microbes in microbial ecosystems
2. Ecophysiological functions of microbial communities
3. Species-species or cell-cell interaction affecting the physiological functions of microbial communities.
Exploration of unknown bacteria and dynamics in environments
Many bacteria play important roles in material cycling in the environment as decomposers. The bacteria currently isolated are considered to account for less than one percent of the total number of species of bacteria which constitute environmental ecosystems. We will explore useful bacteria for environmental purification and conservation. Such exploration requires patience because of the limitation of classical isolation culture methods. However, through efficient exploration by planning new isolation strategies, good results are expected to be achieved quickly.
1. Cultivation and isolation of novel bacteria or archaea useful for environmental purification or environmental conservation.
2. Systematic and evolutionary lineages of the novel isolates.
3. Distribution and ecophysiology of the novel isolates in environments.
Recent Publications
  1. Takii, S., Hanada, S., Hase, Y., Tamaki, H., Uyeno, Y., Sekiguchi, Y., and Matsuura, K. (2008) Desulfovibrio marinisediminis, sp. nov., a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from coastal marine sediment via enrichment with Casamino acids. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., in press
  2. Takii, S., Hanada, S., Tamaki, H., Ueno, Y., Sekiguchi, Y., Ibe, A., and Matsuura, K. (2007) Dethiosulfatibacter aminovorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel thiosulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from coastal marine sediment via sulfate-reducing enrichment with Casamino acids. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 57, 2320-2326
  3. Yamada, M., Zhang, H., Hanada, S., Nagashima, K.V.P., Shimada, K. and Matsuura, K. (2005) Structural and spectroscopic properties of a reaction center complex from the chlorosome-lacking filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacgterium Roseiflexus castenholzii. J. Bacteriol. 187, 1702-1709
  4. Blankenship, R.E. and Matsuura, K. (2003) Antenna Complexes from Green Photosynthetic Bacteria. in Light-Harvesting Antennas in Photosynthesis (Green, B.R. and Parson, W.W. eds.) Kluwer Academic Pub., pp. 195-217
  5. Hanada, S., Shimada, K. and Matsuura, K. (2002) Active and energy-dependent rapid formation of cell aggregates of the thermophilic photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aggregans. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 208, 275-279
  6. Hanada, S., Takaichi, S., Matsuura, K. and Nakamura K. (2002) Roseiflexus castenholzii gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic, filamentous, photosynthetic bacterium which lacks chlorosomes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 52, 187-193
  7. Frigaard, N.-U. and Matsuura, K. (1999) Oxygen uncoples light absorption by the chlorosome antenna and photosynthetic electron transfer in the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum. Biochim. Biphys. Acta 1412, 108-117
  8. Microbes and Environments, 14, 37-40
  9. Hanada, S., Kawase, Y., Hiraishi, A., Takaichi, S., Matsuura, K., Shimada, K. and Nagashima, K.V.P.(1997) Porphyrobacter tepidarius sp. nov., a moderately thermophylic aerobic photosynthetic bacterium isolated from a hot spring.@Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 47, 408-413
  10. Frigaard, N.-U., Takaichi, S., Hirota, M., Shimada, K. and Matsuura, K. (1997) Quinones in chlorosomes of green sulfur bacteria and their role in the redox-dependent fluorescence studied in chlorosome-like bacteriochlorophyll c aggregates. Arch. Microbiol. 167, 343-349
  11. Hanada, S., Hiraishi, A., Shimada, K. and Matsuura K. (1995) Chloroflexus aggregans sp. nov., a filamentous phototrophic bacterium which forms dense cell aggregates by active gliding movement. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 45, 676-681
TOKYO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY