Research Results

Feb 18, 2026

  • Press Release
  • Joint Research Paper

Unlocking Algae’s New Light-Use Mechanism: A Breakthrough for Functional Design of Photosynthetic Proteins. This Discovery Provides Innovative Guidelines for Advanced Engineering in Artificial Photosynthesis.

The results of an international joint research project involving Associate Professor Ritsuko Fujii, Specially Appointed Researcher Soichiro Seki and Professor Genji Kurisu of the Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Specially Appointed Professor Keiichi Namba of the Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Professor Tomáš Polívka and Associate Professor Radek Litvín of the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic, and Associate Professor Lorenzo Cupellini of the University of Pisa in Italy, have been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, issued by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and a press release has been issued.

Soichiro Seki*, Lorenzo Cupellini, David Bína, Elena Betti, Petra Urajová, Hideaki Tanaka, Tomoko Miyata, Keiichi Namba, Genji Kurisu, Tomaáš Polivka, Radek Litvín*, Ritsuko Fujii* (* Corresponding Author)

"Exciton Delocalization Promotes Far-Red Absorption in a Tetrameric Chlorophyll a Light-Harvesting Complex from Trachydiscus minutus"
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c17299


December 13, 2025: Research paper published in a scientific journal.

February 18, 2026: Press release issued.

March 13, 2026: English press release issued.

[Domestic]

Osaka Metropolitan University Website: https://www.omu.ac.jp/info/research_news/entry-22315.html
X : https://x.com/OsakaMetUniv/status/2023989604538573015</a
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/OsakaMetUniv/posts/pfbid0Be6pq25rmYrHkSUpS4daywnDvTMDVs8JuAxJwMPoos2TG5jehUnQmvpReEztFMGal?locale=ja_JP
[Daily] Research Frontier "Chihiro": Published for members only on February 19, 2026. Available on the public page starting from the March 5, 2026 issue.
"Unlocking Algae’s New Light-Use Mechanism"
The Nikkei (Online Edition): "Deciphering Photosynthetic Proteins in Near-Infrared Absorbing Algae: Osaka Metropolitan University and Partners"

[International]

Osaka Metropolitan
University (OMU) :
https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/info/research-news/entry-105480.html
X(OMU) : https://x.com/OsakaMetUniv_en/status/2032350953974685892
LinkedIn(OMU) : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/omu-japan-chemistry-share-7437742527723548672-uDZB?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAFkZTlEBRB7RsHUKQ3ylkQv_CS4rOL7r0XM
EurekAlert ! : https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1119709
Alpha Galileo : https://www.alphagalileo.org/en-gb/Item-Display/ItemId/270142
Asia Research News : https://www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/how-alga-makes-most-dim-light