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Introduction of Tzann-Shun Hwang’s Lab-“Lab of Biochemistry & Biotechnology”
Discovering, developing and producing cheaper and useful medicinal
chemicals to benefit human’s health is one of important aims for the scientists
majored in life science. The theme in my lab is using biochemical approaches to
conduct the researches of biotechnological area, especially related to
Biopharmaceuticals and Bioneutraceuticals. My researches focus on those useful
compounds with medicinal or healthy effects. Some of which can be prepared by
enzymes (biocatalysts) and some are difficult to synthesize but can be prepared from
natural sources directly. Hence, to find a useful biocatalyst and explore its
characteristics, or to prepare, purify and identify a useful compound by bioassay from
natural sources, such as food and traditional herb, are researches that we are
interesting in.
Current projects concerning Biopharmaceuticals in lab:
Biochemical approaches are used to solve all problems encountered in
biosynthesis of medicines, including to develop new synthesizing strategies or to find
thermostable biocatalysts and their application in medicines!
(BP-1)  Aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), which is used in producing aromatic
amino acids and L-homophenylalanine, a component of anti-hypertensive medicine.
(BP-2)  Branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase (BCAT) is used in producing
branched-chain amino acids and tert-Leucine, a important component of HIV drug.
(BP-3)  D-amino acid aminotransferase (DAT) and its use in simultaneously
producing GL-7ACA and D-alanine, which are an starting material for cephem
antibiotics and a component of sweetener Alitame, respectively.
(BP-4)  Alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase (AEH) and its use in the synthesis of
cephalexin, a common used cephem antibiotics, from PGEM and 7ADCA.
Current projects concerning Bioneutraceuticals projects in lab:
Discovering or preparing bioactive compounds from synthesized chemical
banks, traditional medicine, natural product and ethnic herb
(BN-1)  Screening inhibitors from synthesized chemical banks against M.
tuberculosis branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase.
(BN-2)  To discover the effecting factor of Bird’s nest against the infection of
influenza virus.
(BN-3)  To massive prepare the cancer epitopes, STn and Tn, from bovine salivary
mucin (BSM) and pocine salivary mucin (PSM).
(BN-4)  To discover the effecting components of Antrodia camphorata as
anti-cancer or as immunomodulating agents.