Meeting Young Researchers

Profile

Masayuki HASHIMOTO

Research Area:
microbial genetics, genomic engineering, applied microbiology, microbial ecology
Keywords:
bacterial genome, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lactic acid bacterium, environmental microorganism
Contact:
3-15-1 Tokida, Ueda-shi, Nagano-ken
Japan 386-8567
E-mail: hash[at-mark]shinshu-u.ac.jp


Selected Publications:
  • Kato, J., and Hashimoto, M. Construction of consecutive deletions of the Escherichia coli chromosome. Mol. Syst. Biol. 3: 132
  • Hashimoto, M., Ichimura, T., Mizoguchi, H., Tanaka, K., Fujimitsu, K., Keyamura, K., Ote, T., Yamakawa, T., Yamazaki, Y., Mori, H., Katayama, T., and Kato, J. (2005) Cell size and nucleoid organization of engineered Escherichia coli cells with a reduced genome. Mol. Microbiol. 55: 137-149.
  • Hashimoto, M. and Kato, J. (2003) Indispensability of the Escherichia coli carbonic anhydrases YadF and CynT in cell proliferation at a low CO2 partial pressure. Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 67: 919-922.
  • Hashimoto, M., Fukui, M., Hayano, K., and Hayatsu, M. (2002) Nucleotide sequence and genetic structure of a novel carbaryl hydrolase gene (cehA) from Rhizobium sp. AC100. Appl. Environ, Microbiol. 68: 1220-1227
  • Hashimoto, M., Ikegami, T., Seino, S., Ohuchi, N., Fukada, H., Sugiyama, J., Shirakawa, M., and Watanabe, T. (2000) Expression and characterization of the chitin-binding domain of chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12. J. Bacteriol. 182: 3045-3054

Research Statement

I am interested in mechanisms of life. Currently, genomic structures of more than 500 organisms have been determined, and studies of the life mechanisms have accelerated. Experimental identification of essential genes has been carried out some model organisms, for example Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and identification of the minimal gene set and clarification of the functions of these genes are in progress to understand the mechanisms of life. Besides, we have applied many bacteria for health care, industry and so on, and have got so many various benefits. Then, I study to apply the strategies and technics used for model organisms to the useful bacteria, to understand such organisms and to utilize them efficiently. On the other hand, I am interested in microbial ecology, too. While more than 99% of bacteria are said to be difficult to cultivate, we have already got many benefits from culturable bacteria. If we find ways to cultivate such uncultured bacteria, we could utilize more abundant bacterial and genetic resources. Then, I focus on air component, and study effects of carbon dioxide concentration on bacterial cultivation.