Professor Jian-Ren Shen, Director of the Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, one of the institutes that comprise the Institute for Advanced Cutting-edge Research at Okayama University, has been selected as the recipient of the 6th (2024) Kobayashi Prize from the Kobayashi Foundation.
The Kobayashi Prize has been awarded since 2019 to researchers in Japan who have conducted original research in various fields of life sciences, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, engineering, and science, and who have achieved remarkable results and are expected to continue to develop their research fields.
This year, Dr. Shen received the award for his “series of research on photosynthesis, focusing on the structural biology of photosystem complexes. Dr. Shen has analyzed the high-resolution structure of photosystem II (PSII) complex isolated from cyanobacteria by X-ray crystallography and clarified the structure of the manganese-calcium (Mn4CaO5) cluster, which plays a central role as a catalyst for water splitting and oxygen evolution reactions. Using an X-ray free electron laser (SACLA), he clarified the precise structure of this catalytic center and the series of structural changes that occur in response to light irradiation, making a significant contribution to the clarification of the water splitting and oxygen evolution reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, using cryo-EM, he elucidated the mechanism of highly efficient collection and transfer of light energy in a large complex composed of a photosystem and a light-harvesting antenna protein. The award was given to Dr. Shen in recognition of his internationally outstanding research achievements, which not only laid the foundation for the elucidation of the mechanism of natural photosynthesis, but also provide important guidelines for the synthesis of artificial catalysts for artificial photosynthesis, the dream energy source for mankind.
In accepting the award, Dr. Shen said, “I am very pleased to receive this recognition for my work on structural analysis of photosystem II and its supramolecular complex with antenna dye proteins using SACLA and cryo-electron microscopy. I would like to express my gratitude to the many collaborators who have been involved in this project, and I will continue to make efforts to produce even better results in the future.”
Okayama University President Yasutomo Nasu commented, “I am very pleased that the Director and Professor Shen was selected for the prestigious Kobayashi Prize. In the field of basic research, which is Okayama University's strong point, Dr. Shen's photosynthesis research is not just “on par with the world” but “leading the world” in terms of research activities and results. Above all, the research group of excellent young researchers led by Director Shen is growing in depth. This research formation is a very good example of the research environment not only at Okayama University but also in Japan. The decision to award the Kobayashi Prize this time will give further impetus to research activities and research formation, and the university will continue to support them.
Okayama University received the “Program for Forming Japan's Peak Research Universities (J-PEAKS)” from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on December 22, 2023, and is strongly promoting the realization of Okayama University's long-term vision 2050: “A research university that co-creates the future of the region and the Earth and contributes to global innovation. One of these efforts is the establishment of the Okayama University Research Institute. One of these efforts is the “Plant and Photo Energy Development Center,” an Institute for Advanced Cutting-edge Research (special research zone) headed by Director Shen, which is strategically conducting research activities to achieve social change. We look forward to the continued challenge of Director Shen and Okayama University, a regional core and unique research university.
The award ceremony will be held on February 27 in Osaka City.
The 6th (FY2024) Kobayashi Prize was awarded to Prof. Shen
Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science (Tsushima Campus, Okayama University), headed by Prof. Shen