Seigo Shima

Seigo Shima is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, Germany, and holds a concurrent Guest Professor position at Hokkaido University (since 2012). He earned an MSc in Agriculture from Osaka Prefectural University (1985) and a PhD in Agriculture from the University of Tokyo (1991). His career includes roles as an Alexander-von-Humboldt Research Fellow (1993–1995) and group leader at the Max Planck Institute (since 1995).

Shima's research centers on microbial enzymology and methanogenesis, with three primary foci: (1) structure-function relationships of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis enzymes, (2) catalytic mechanisms of [Fe]-hydrogenase, and (3) biosynthesis of the [Fe]-hydrogenase cofactor. His work integrates structural biology, kinetics, and spectroscopy to elucidate unique cofactors and electron-transfer pathways in archaeal metabolism.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2018–2022) reveals dominant themes in enzyme structure determination (e.g., hydrogenases, reductases), catalytic mechanisms (hydride transfer, oxygen sensitivity), and cofactor biosynthesis. Techniques like X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and vibrational spectroscopy are prominently featured.

Shima currently advises doctoral researcher Joao Pedro Fernandes Queiroz and collaborates with postdoctoral scientists and guest researchers. His lab employs advanced structural and biochemical methods to study microbial energy conversion, with ongoing projects on enzyme complexes involved in methane formation and electron bifurcation.