Professor Shinsuke Fujiwara from the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences published a research article titled "Replacement of branched-chain polyamine

On May 28, 2025, Professor Shinsuke Fujiwara from the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences published a research article titled "Replacement of branched-chain polyamine biosynthesis with thermospermine supports survival under both cold and heat stress in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis" in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology (online edition) by the American Society for Microbiology. This study revealed that branched-chain polyamines -unique chemical compounds - are essential not only for survival at extremely high temperatures but also under cold conditions in the hyperthermophile Thermococcus kodakarensis. The research also showed that thermospermine, produced by some hyperthermophiles, can substitute for branched-chain polyamines. These findings provide new insights into how hyperthermophiles survive extreme temperature environments.

https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00326-25