For a greener, safer synthetic chemistry

Enzymes are proteins linked by amino acids that act as catalysts with in vivo chemical reactions. A catalyst is a substance that lowers the activation energy needed for a reaction. For example, if the progress of a reaction is represented on a graph as the x-axis and energy as the y-axis, a high peak will be drawn when there is no catalyst, and low peak when a catalyst is present.

Matsuda lists four advantages of using enzymes as catalysts for organic synthesis. "(1) First, since enzymes have evolved in nature over a long period of time, they are complex and have high selectivity for specific reactants. There are no side reactions in an enzyme reaction, so only what is desired is made. Therefore, a chemical reaction that, for example, required four steps can be reduced to one step. It requires less energy, making it better for the environment. (2) Next, if the microorganisms that produce the target enzyme can be acquired and cultured, many can be produced, so there is no risk of depletion. (3) The reagent and reaction conditions necessary for the reaction to proceed are safe. Some chemical reactions use explosive reagents, but if it is an oxidation reaction using enzymes, safe air itself can be used. Since there is little risk of side reactions, it prevents unexpected dangers. (4) Lastly, enzymes work under the same conditions as inside the human body at 37℃, so the reaction progresses at normal temperature, resulting in good energy efficiency." (Matsuda)

A good catalyst is highly selective and rarely causes side reactions. Using catalysts for reactions is one of the necessities in green chemistry.

When in graduate school, Matsuda says that her mentor Kaoru Nakamura, an associate professor at the time at Kyoto University, was doing organic synthesis with enzymes, which was the start of her research. When she was an assistant in the laboratory at Ryukoku University, Professor Tadao Harada, with whom she still often consults, began using carbon dioxide for enzymatic reactions instead of supercritical alcohol, which was the origin.

"The professors allowed us to pursue whatever we wanted. Because of this, I also want to give students freedom." (Matsuda)

She cultivated the idea of valuing freedom while in the United States during high school and university. Matsuda explains, "Education in America helps you develop what you are good at. I got into the habit of doing what I wanted to do without worrying about who was watching. That's why I still research what I want at university. Both race and individuality are recognized in that society, so in the laboratory, I was able to conduct research with other students without discrimination."

Her personality is also reflected in the atmosphere of the laboratory. At the School of Life Science and Technology, there is an extremely high ratio of students from overseas, and in the student rooms, there are always opportunities for students to exchange opinions and learn the importance of cooperating with others. Matsuda herself values the opinions of students and teamwork.

"Research cannot be done alone, and finding new ways of thinking is stimulating. I have learned many things through collaborating with students. Everyone seems to be unique and enjoy what they are doing. Even when an experiment fails, they quickly recover. I want them to engage in many different things and grow as people." (Matsuda)

Each student has a research notebook.
They do research every day while communicating with Matsuda based on detailed theories and findings.

Amazement at doing practical things with invisible enzymes

My research theme is carboxylation reactions using carbon dioxide as a reactant, and I am working on coenzyme regeneration, which plays a role in advancing the main enzyme reaction. It's fun when I am able to see that a reaction occurs according to what I expected or can see how my skills have improved. I wanted to join Matsuda Lab because I was interested in organic chemistry and enzyme engineering, where practical things are produced by theorizing and assembling things you can't normally see. I plan to continue to the master's program, and my goal before graduation is to give an interesting and successful conference presentation. Matsuda-sensei is kind and caring, and respects our independence. I feel that this laboratory is a place where people can work together regardless of seniority.

I want to become a researcher in my beloved field of enzyme engineering and achieve global success

I came to the Matsuda Lab as an exchange student from Indonesia when I was a 4th year undergraduate. I really enjoy being able to actually carry out enzyme engineering experiments that I had only read about in textbooks. In the lab, we study the structure of enzymes and consider whether it can be used for beneficial reactions, and develop fixation methods for applying enzymes to industrial use. I often participate in conferences where I am able to listen to diverse ideas and presentations, and I also enjoy collaborating, where I can discuss things with people from different fields. Matsuda-sensei has a flexible way of thinking, and it is easy even for overseas students to talk to her. She is also interested in our life, not just our research, so she is like my mother in Japan. In the future, I want to work in academia and continue my research, in not only my home country and Japan, but in other countries as well.