New bio-crystals, architectures and functions

Unlike the more established field of inorganic bio-crystallization, relatively few systems of organic bio-crystallization have been extensively studied. Beyond guanine, only a handful of organic crystalline materials have been definitively identified in organisms using modern spectroscopy tools. These include xanthine, isoxanthopterin, riboflavin (found in mammalian eyes), dihydroxanthopterin, and uric acid, which we recently identified in medaka. Our research focuses on discovering and identifying novel bio-organic crystals by studying new and exotic species using advanced spectroscopy methods, such as micro-Raman and mass spectrometry. In parallel, we utilize state-of-the-art light and electron microscopy to understand the architecture and functionality of these crystalline systems in detail. By combining these approaches, we aim to expand our understanding of organic bio-crystallization and uncover new mechanisms underlying their formation and biological roles.