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RIKEN Baton Zone Program Microalgae Resource Upcycling Research Laboratory

Team Leader: Suzuki Kengo (D.Agr.)
Deputy Team Leader: Keiichi Mochida (Ph.D.)

Research Summary

Suzuki  Kengo(D.Agr.) Keiichi Mochida

The team is based on the former team, Microalgae Production Control Technology Research Team. In the former team, we established the world's first genome-editing technology for Euglena. Furthermore, we produced a large number of genome-edited strains by utilizing the established technology. We have also utilized those strains for genetics of Euglena and demonstrated the potential of the technology for use in breeding. The new team will focus in particular on adding value to the extraction residue when microalgae are used to produce lipids and sugars, and aim to further apply the above technologies in practice.

[Integrated Collaborative Research with: euglena Co.,Ltd.]

Main Research Fields

  • Biology

Related Research Fields

  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Applied microbiology-related
  • Crop production science-related

Keywords

  • Micfroalgae
  • Genome editing
  • breeding
  • Residual resource

Selected Publications

Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.

  • 1. Toshihisa Nomura, June-Silk Kim, Marumi Ishikawa, Kengo Suzuki, Keiichi Mochida.
    "High-efficiency genome editing by Cas12a ribonucleoprotein complex in Euglena gracilis"
    Microbial Biotechnology, volume17, Issue2, e14393, (2024)
  • 2. Shun Tamaki, Tomoko Shinomura & Keiichi Mochida.
    "Illuminating the diversity of carotenoids in microalgal eyespots and phototaxis"
    Plant Signaling & Behavior, volume 18, Issue 1, 2257348. (2023)
  • 3. Shun Tamaki, Kazunari Ozasa, Toshihisa Nomura, Marumi Ishikawa, Koji Yamada, Kengo Suzuki, Keiishi Mochida.
    "Zeaxanthin is required for eyespot formation and phototaxis in Euglena gracilis"
    Plant Physiology, volume 191, Issue 4, P2414-2426, (2023)
  • 4. Marumi Ishikawa, Toshihisa Nomura, Shun Tamaki, Kazunari Ozasa, Tomoko Suzuki, Kiminori Toyooka, Kikue Hirota, Koji Yamada, Kengo Suzuki, Keiichi Mochida.
    "CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of non-motile mutants to improve the harvesting efficiency of mass-cultivated Euglena gracilis"
    Plant Biotechnology Journal, volume 20, Issue 11, p.2042-2044, (2022)
  • 5. Tamaki, Shun, Keiichi Mochida, and Kengo Suzuki.
    "Diverse biosynthetic pathways and protective functions against environmental stress of antioxidants in microalgae."
    Plants 10.6 (2021): 1250.
  • 6. Harada, Ryo, et al.
    "Genetic engineering strategies for Euglena gracilis and its industrial contribution to sustainable development goals: A review."
    Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 8 (2020): 790.
  • 7. Nomura, Toshihisa, et al.
    "Highly efficient transgene‐free targeted mutagenesis and single‐stranded oligodeoxynucleotide‐mediated precise knock‐in in the industrial microalga Euglena gracilis using Cas9 ribonucleoproteins."
    Plant biotechnology journal 17.11 (2019): 2032.
  • 8. *Yamada, Koji, et al.
    "Characterization of sulfur-compound metabolism underlying wax-ester fermentation in Euglena gracilis."
    Nature, Scientific reports 9.1 853 (2019):

Related Links

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Suzuki Kengo
Team Leader

Core members

Keiichi Mochida
Deputy Team Leader
Aya Ide
Research Part-time Worker II
Koji Yamada
Visiting Scientist
Iwao Ohtsu
Visiting Scientist
Hideyuki Adachi
Visiting Scientist
Yusuke Kawano
Visiting Scientist
Ayaka Nakashima
Visiting Scientist
Enrico Gianino
Visiting Scientist
kazuki Yokoyama
Visiting Scientist
Wataru Okamoto
Visiting Scientist
Shun Oyadomari
Visiting Scientist
Kikue Hirota
Visiting Technician
Yoshihiro Naka
Visiting Technician
Nobuko Nitta
Visiting Technician
Chieko Higuchi
Visiting Technician

Contact Information

7F East Research Building
1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa
230-0045, Japan
Email: fumiko.susa [at] riken.jp

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