"Extreme organisms" are the organisms that can grow under extremely unusual environments, in which any normal terrestrial organisms including humans cannot survive. Thermophiles, psychrophiles, halophiles, acidphiles, alkaliphiles, and balophiles represent extreme organisms. For example, a thermophile which can grow at a temperature above 110 °C, a psychrophile which can grow at a temperature below the freezing point, a halophile which can grow at a NaCl concentration above 30%, an acidphile which can grow at a pH below 1, and an alkaliphile which can grow at a pH above 13 have been isolated. In addition to these microorganisms, extreme microorganisms that grow in the deep undersurface of the earth, in the craters of submarine volcanoes, and in oil fields have been isolated. They seem to grow very slowly in these conditions. Nevertheless, it is curious that they can survive in these severe conditions, in which normal organisms cannot grow. In these conditions, a number of special functions of these microorganisms are highlighted. Therefore, studies on these functions are expected to provide valuable information which facilitate the understanding for the nature of life and the development of new techniques useful for the production of industrial materials.

　"Biotechnology" is a technology that makes it possible to apply biological functions for industrial purposes. Biotechnology is a general term and includes a variety of technologies, such as recombinant technology, cell fusion technology, fermentation technology, and in vitro fertilization technology. The basic technology which is common to these technologies is a recombinant DNA technology. Development of this technology allowed us to manipulate DNA, which is a chemical component of the gene, and finally to create even clones of animals.

　We are educating students and making researches in close collaboration with other laboratories in the similar fields, such as those in Dept. of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, the International Center for Biotechnology, Osaka University, and Dept. of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University.

　We intend to isolate biomolecules, such as proteins, from extreme microorganisms and related microorganisms, and apply them for industrial purpose, mainly with recombinant DNA and protein engineering technologies. We also intend to develop a method to improve the functions of microorganisms and biomolecules, so that they can meet the industrial expectations. Though the targets of our studies are microorganisms, the techniques and materials, which will be developed, are expected to be useful in various fields, such as environmental preservation, medicine, and chemical industry.

　The present members in our laboratory in May 2000 are Shigenori Kanaya (Prof.), Masaaki Morikawa (Assoc. Prof.), Mitsuru Haruki (Lecturer), Reiko Matsumoto (Secretary), one post-doctoral fellows, senven Ph.D. students, ten master course students, six undergraduate students.