Kenji Soda--researching enzymes with the spirit of an alpinist.

Like an alpinist continuously seeking virgin peaks to climb, Kenji Soda has investigated a variety of unique enzymes for which there was little or no information available; and by doing so he opened up a variety of new fields in enzyme science and technology. In particular, he has promoted the study of enzymes requiring vitamin B-derived cofactors such as FAD, NAD(P) and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, shedding light on their reaction mechanisms, enzymological properties, crystal structures and potential practical applications. Highlighted in this review are the studies of enzymes acting on d-amino acids and sulphur/selenium-containing amino acids and those from thermophilic and psychrophilic bacteria.