Bioenergetics

Sodium ion-pumping V-type ATPase in E.hirae

Secondary active transport systems (of amino acids) in E.coli

A life is maintained by energy input. An organism uses many forms of energy, such as light energy, mechanical energy in muscle, chemical energy and so on. It has fancy devices to transform the energy forms. We are studying such energy transducing systems in a living cell, especially a sodium ion-pumping V-type ATPase in E.hirae, secondary active transport systems, especially of amino acids, in E.coli, flagellar motor system of bacteria, and actomyosin energy transducing system in muscle.

The Nobel Laureate of Chemistry in 1978 was Dr. Peter Mitchell by the work on the "Chemiosmotic Theory". Owing to his achievement, the importance of proton and ion circuits around cells has been widely recognized. Then, the Nobel Laureates of Chemistry of this year (1997) are Drs. P. Boyer, J. Walker, and Skou. Dr. P. Boyer proposed the rolling model of F-ATPase as the energy transduction mechanism. Dr. J. Walker determined the three dimensional structure of the catalytic part of the F-ATPase. Dr. Skou discovered Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, which plays an important role in forming Na⁺ gradient across cytoplasmic membranes of various cells, especially nerve cells. These works are very closely related to the researches in our lab. I hope that more and more people become interested in and contribute to this field. Looking forward to working with YOU in our lab.(97.11.11)

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