Recognizing Plant Cell authors: Masaomi Yamamrua

Masaomi Yamamrua, co-first author of Seed-coat Protective Neolignans are Produced by the Dirigent Protein AtDP1 and the Laccase AtLAC5 in Arabidopsis

Current Position: Specially appointed assistant professor, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH), Kyoto University

Education: Ph.D. at Kyoto University, Japan

Non-scientific interests: photo shooting, movies

Brief bio: In 2004, I started research on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites under the supervision of Prof. Toshiaki Umezawa at Kyoto University, Japan. During my doctral course, I was studying the biosynthesis of hinokiresinol, which is one of norlignans. The discovery that hinokiresinol synthase (HRS) is composed of two subunits, and the subunit composition of HRS controls not only cis/trans isomerism but also enantioselectivity in hinokiresinol formation inspired me, and taught me the fun of research. After finishing my Ph.D. study, I have been studying the biosynthesis of antitumor lignans in Apiaceae and Asteraceae plants and lignocellulose characteristics of large-sized grass plants such as Erianthus and Sorghum.