Chemistry and Utilization of Animal Production Resources
Department of Applied Chemistry in Bioscience

Graduate School of Agricultural Science
Faculty of Agriculture
Kobe University

Introduction of Our Laboratory

Our research laboratory is focusing on the proteins and lipids which are major ingredients of animal resources.

Specifically, we investigate function of enzymes and lipids to find new markers for quality control of food and some diseases, and to develop functional foods, health care products, and medicine. In the research, we utilize knockout mice and cultured animal cells focusing on signal transduction and microbiota.

On the other hand, proteins and lipids are important factors in the flavor and texture of foods. We also investigate bioactive compounds in those constituents and their digestion mechanism and conduct research aimed at increasing the value of food and livestock products.

Fugure 1. DGKβ KO mouse (left) and its primary cultured hippocampal neuron (right)

DKGbeta-knockout mouse Hippocampal primary cultured cells showing morphological abnormality due to DGKbeta-knockout

The KO mouse show impairment of memory and its neurons has less branches, indicating importance of DGKβ in morphological change of neurons and higher brain function.

Fugure 2. (a) Immunofluorescent staining and tissue special staining of cultured animal cells (b) Gene analysis by next-generation sequencer.

(a) Immunofluorescent staining and tissue special staining of cultured animal cells (b) Gene analysis by next-generation sequencer.

We analyze the nutritional function, palatability, and health function of foods using various experimental systems.

Topics

  • If you would like to visit the laboratory or to enroll in graduate school, please contact us.
  • New page for "Skincare Research" is now available.
  • Graduate students Ms. Uchihashi and Ms. Mizukawa presented their research results at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Food Factors (JSoFF) in Toyama (Dec 15-16, 2025).
  • Based on our skincare research, we have established a venture company, Kobe Bioscience(K-bios).

Access

Address

Building-F 6F, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University
1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan

E-mail

shirai(at)kobe-u.ac.jp

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