Naoki KATO

Naoki KATO
Naoki KATO
(Ph.D, Research Scientist)

Chemical Resource Development Research Unit

INTEREST OF MY RESEARCH

Filamentous fungi produce secondary metabolites with complex structures and various biological activities. Aims of my research are to elucidate the biosynthetic mechanisms of bioactive fungal secondary metabolites and expand their chemical diversity by pathway engineering. To accelerate the utilization of microbial genetic resources, I am also working on construction of a biosynthetic platform for the production of valuable chemicals and chemical activation of the fungal secondary metabolite production.

EDUCATION
1993-1997
Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
1997-1999
Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University
1999-2002
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University
DEGREES
Ph.D. (2002)
Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University
APPOINTMENTS
2002-2003
Research associate, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University
2004-2005
NEDO Research fellow, Forestry Research Institute, Oji Paper Company Ltd.
2005-2007
Postdoctoral Researcher, Antibiotics Laboratory, RIKEN
2007-2010
Special Postdoctoral Researcher, Antibiotics Laboratory, RIKEN
2010-2013
ASI Research Scientist, Chemical Biology Core Facility, RIKEN ASI
2010-2011
Visiting Scientist, Dept. of Chemical Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology
2013.Apr.-
Research Scientist, Natural Product Biosynthesis Research Unit, Chemical Biology Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
  • Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry
  • Fungal Molecular Biology Society of Japan
LIST OF SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  1. Kato N., Nogawa T., Hirota H., Jang JH, Takahashi S., Ahn JS, Osada H.: A new enzyme involved in the control of the stereochemistry in the decalin formation during equisetin biosynthesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 460: 210-215 (2015)
  2. Kato N., Takahashi S., Nogawa T., Saito T., Osada H., Construction of a microbial natural product library for chemical biology studies. Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol.,16, 101-108 (2012) (review)
  3. Kato N., Tokuoka M., Shinohara Y., Kawatani M., Uramoto M., Seshime Y., Fujii I., Kitamoto K., Takahashi T., Koyama Y., and Osada H., Genetic safeguard against mycotoxin cyclopiazonic acid production in Aspergillus oryzae. ChemBioChem, 12, 1376-1382 (2011).
  4. Kato N., Suzuki H., Takagi H., Uramoto M., Takahashi S., and Osada H., Gene disruption and biochemical characterization of verruculogen synthase of Aspergillus fumigatus. ChemBioChem, 12, 711-714 (2011).
  5. Kato N., Suzuki, H., Takagi, H., Asami, Y., Kakeya, H., Uramoto, M., Usui, T., Takahashi, S., Sugimoto, Y., and Osada, H., Identification of cytochrome P450s required for fumitremorgin biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus. Chembiochem 10, 920-928 (2009).
  6. Kato N., Brooks, W., and Calvo, A. M., The expression of sterigmatocystin and penicillin genes in Aspergillus nidulans is controlled by veA, a gene required for sexual development. Eukaryot. Cell 2, 1178-1186 (2003).