2021 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Department of Life Science and Technology Graduate major in Life Science and Technology
Science of Metabolism
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Takashi Hirasawa / Nobuaki Shiraki / Naoyuki Yamamoto / Akira Kato
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Tue / 1-2 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A407
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Cellular metabolism is required to obtain the energy for growth and is closely related to cellular responses and diseases. This course will provide an overview of cellular responses and diseases in microorganisms and animals from a viewpoint of metabolism.
The aim of this course is to learn the cellular responses and diseases in organisms and application of their knowledge to the fields of engineering and medical science.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the metabolic regulations in microbial cells and explain the technologies and examples of bioproduction using microbial cells.
2) Understand the intestinal microflora and impact on host throughout host-microbe communication.
3) Understand the role of the urinary, gastrointestinal, muscular and endocrine systems in mammalian water-electrolyte and energy metabolisms and the mechanisms of related diseases.
4) Understand the metabolic regulations in stem cells and explain cell differentiation technology and therapy utilizing its characteristics.
Keywords
Microorganisms, Metabolic engineering, Bioproduction, Probiotic bacteria, Commensal bacteria, Symbiotic bacteria, Water-electrolyte metabolism, Energy metabolism, Organ function, Stem cell, Amino acid metabolism, Regenerative medicine
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lectures are given by the Zoom broadcasting. Students should familiarize themselves with topics described in the required learning section before coming to the class. Students might be given exercise problems related to what is taught on that day to solve.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is metabolic engineering? |
Explain the definition of metabolic engineering and methodology of metabolic engineering and study the strategies for bioproduction using microbial cells and recent progresses of bioproductions |
| Class 2 | Metabolic flux analysis 1 |
Understand the methodology for analyzing intracellular metabolic fluxes |
| Class 3 | Metabolic flux analysis 2 |
Understand the methodology for estimation of metabolic flux ratio using 13C-labeled substrate(s) |
| Class 4 | Microflora analysis |
Understand the intestinal microflora and the analytical method |
| Class 5 | Host-microbe relationship |
Understand the impact of intestinal microbe on host |
| Class 6 | Controlling of the intestinal microflora |
Understand current topics for the controlling of the intestinal microflora |
| Class 7 | Water-electrolyte metabolism in mammals |
Understand the role of the kidney and intestine in water-electrolyte metabolism at molecular, cellular and tissue level. |
| Class 8 | Regulation of water-electrolyte metabolism and diseases |
Study the endocrine regulation of water-electrolyte metabolism and related diseases. |
| Class 9 | Energy metabolism in mammals |
Understand the role of the intestine, liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in energy metabolism at molecular, cellular and tissue level. |
| Class 10 | Regulation of energy metabolism and diseases |
Study the endocrine regulation of energy metabolism and related diseases. |
| Class 11 | Overview of stem cell metabolism |
Review the enagy metabolism in embryonic and somatic stem cells |
| Class 12 | Glucose metabolism of stem cells |
Review the glucose metabolism studied in undergraduate major courses in Life Science and Technology, and understand the glucose metabolism of stem cells |
| Class 13 | Amino acid metabolism of stem cells |
Understand the amino acid metabolism of stem cells, and its role in the pluripotency and differentiation of stem cells |
| Class 14 | Stem cell metabolism for regenerative medicine |
Understand the regenerative medicine research using unique metabolic properties of stem cells |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials are provided through OCW-i.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Each instructor will give report assignment related to the lecture. Based on your submitted reports, students will be assessed on their achievements described in "Student learning outcomes."
Related courses
- 400-level graduate major courses in Life Science and Technology
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but it is desirable to have basic knowledge of biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Hirasawa: thirasawa[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, 5780
Shiraki: shiraki[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, 5814
Yamamoto: n-yamamoto[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, 5105
Kato: akirkato[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, 5794
Other
This course will follow from the basic to advanced levels. For Japanese students, outline of the class will be explained in Japanese at the end of the class.