Quantum & molecular chemistry
at the origin of life

The Ishikita Lab The Ishikita Lab

Hiroshi ISHIKITA Prof.Hiroshi ISHIKITA

1998B.S. The University of Tokyo
2000 M.S. The University of Tokyo
2005Ph.D. Freie Universität Berlin
2006 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Southern California
2007JSPS Fellow for Research Abroad
2008Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo
2009Assistant Professor (tenure track), Kyoto University
2009Researcher, PRESTO, JST (concurrent)
2013Lecturer, Kyoto University
2013Professor, Osaka University
2014 Professor, The University of Tokyo

Extension number: 55056
Location: 408, RCAST Bldg. 4, Komaba II campus
hiro☆appchem.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Research

The source of life activity can ultimately be found in protein molecules inside cells. Protein molecules possess 1) metal complexes and π-conjugated molecules as catalytic or redox-active sites, 2) pigments (dyes) as light-harvesting antennas or photosensor sites, and 3) hydrogen bond networks as proton transfer pathways. For example, in photosynthetic proteins, these “molecular units” are optimally arranged in a protein electrostatic environment to achieve a quantum yield of 100% in photoelectric conversion. Protein molecules have evolved and optimized over 4 billion years since life was born on Earth. Even today, its mechanism has not been elucidated and its application has, thus far, been hampered. Using approaches based on physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, photochemistry, electrochemistry, quantum chemistry, biochemistry, physics, etc., we will elucidate the fundamentals of life theoretically from “molecules”.

Website:http://www.protein.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index_en.html

Member

  • Associate Prof.Keisuke SAITO (Keisuke SAITO)

    Affiliation: The Ishikita Laboratory
    Extension number: 55056
    Location: 407-1, RCAST Bldg. 4.
    ksaito☆appchem.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp

  • Research Assoc. Prof.Hiroyuki TAMURA (Hiroyuki TAMURA)

    Affiliation: The Ishikita Laboratory
    Extension number: 55082
    Location: 407-1, RCAST Bldg. 4.
    tamura☆protein.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

  • Assistant Prof.Tomoyasu NOJI (Tomoyasu NOJI)

    Affiliation: The Ishikita Laboratory
    Extension number: 55082
    Location: 407-1, RCAST Bldg. 4.
    tnoji☆protein.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp

  • SecretaryYukari TERAO (Yukari TERAO)

    Affiliation: The Ishikita Laboratory