Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research, The University of Tokushima, Kuramotocho 3-18-15, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
J Biochem. 2010 Nov;148(5):527-31. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvq109.
Professor Nobuhiko Katunuma is well known for his outstanding contribution to the understanding of proteolysis in general and cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors in mammals. In fact, he is a world pioneer in the field. In 1963, he started his highly successful scientific career as a Professor at the Institute for Enzyme Research, the University of Tokushima. During the initial 30 years of his career, he was interested in vitamin B6 metabolism and discovered the acceleration of turnover rates of pyridoxal enzyme in apoprotein formation. After this period, his interest expanded to lysosomal cystein proteinases and their endogenous inhibitors. After determining the crystal structure of human cathepsin B, he generated a series of chemically synthesized specific inhibitors of cathepsins. These inhibitors are currently used throughout the world and some of them have been applied therapeutically in various diseases. During his career and even at present, Professor Katunuma has been studying Biochemistry in Medicine and also practicing to become a 'Kendo sword fencing Fighter'.
Katunuma 教授在理解蛋白质水解作用以及哺乳动物半胱氨酸蛋白酶及其抑制剂方面做出了杰出贡献，因此声名远扬。实际上，他是该领域的世界先驱。1963 年，他在日本德岛大学酶研究所开始了他非常成功的科学生涯。在职业生涯的最初 30 年里，他对维生素 B6 代谢很感兴趣，并发现了在载脂蛋白形成过程中促进吡哆醛酶周转率的作用。在此期间，他的兴趣扩展到溶酶体半胱氨酸蛋白酶及其内源性抑制剂。在确定了人组织蛋白酶 B 的晶体结构后，他生成了一系列组织蛋白酶的化学合成特异性抑制剂。这些抑制剂目前在全球范围内使用，其中一些已在各种疾病的治疗中得到应用。在他的职业生涯中，甚至在现在，Katunuma 教授一直在研究医学中的生物化学，同时也在练习成为一名“剑道击剑手”。
