Prof. Komatsu lab’s proteins in space

Chuo University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering Professor Teruyuki Komatsu and his research team, are working to develop high quality protein crystals in space in a joint project with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

It was reported that proteins (artificial blood for pet animals) developed by Kyoko Yokomaku (M2) of the Komatsu Lab arrived at the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station, carried by the Soyuz spacecraft launched from Baikonur Space Center for further protein crystal growth experiments that began on October 21.
It is expected that high quality protein crystals developed in the microgravity environment of space will give a detailed structural data of artificial blood.
For details, please see the links below.
 

News on JAXA’s website (Japanese) http://iss.jaxa.jp/kiboexp/news/161021_pcg.html
JAXA homepage (Japanese) http://iss.jaxa.jp/
Komatsu Laboratory (English) http://www.chem.chuo-u.ac.jp/~komatsu-lab/en/index.html