Norio Kagawa
Papers
1
Total Citations
35
H-Index
1
About
Norio Kagawa is a leading figure in the field of cytochrome P450 biochemistry and biocatalysis, with a particular focus on steroid hormone biosynthesis. His research centers on engineering recombinant microbial systems for the selective production of complex pharmaceutical steroids, addressing key challenges in industrial biotechnology. Kagawa’s most notable contribution is the development of a recombinant *Escherichia coli* biocatalyst expressing human CYP11B1, which enables the efficient, one-step 11β-hydroxylation of 11-deoxycortisol to produce cortisol. This work, published in 2015 and cited 35 times, represents a significant breakthrough in the preparative-scale synthesis of this essential anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drug, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional multi-step chemical synthesis. By optimizing the biocatalyst for scalability, Kagawa has demonstrated the practical potential of harnessing human metabolic enzymes for green chemistry applications. His achievements highlight a powerful synergy between fundamental enzymology and applied bioprocess engineering, making his work highly relevant for researchers in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Research Focus
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- 1