Our laboratory focuses on the phosphorylation-based modification of natural polyphenolic phytochemicals, aiming to enhance their water solubility and bioavailability and overcome limitations in oral absorption and functionality. We pioneered the use of Bacillus subtilis as a microbial platform for the direct phosphorylation of polyphenols and identified a novel endogenous dikinase as the key enzyme, which further enabled the development of an in vitro enzymatic phosphorylation system. Our research encompasses two major directions: (1) Microbial biotransformation, including the investigation of structural influences on phytochemical metabolism, development of structure-specific B. subtilis strains using CRISPR/Cas9, and analysis of gene clusters and regulatory mechanisms associated with phosphorylation pathways. (2) Enzymatic catalysis, focusing on characterizing the catalytic mechanism of dikinases, establishing a dual-enzyme ATP regeneration system to enhance phosphorylation efficiency, and optimizing enzyme performance through molecular docking and kinetic studies. In addition to fundamental research, we actively promote technology transfer and industrial application. Several of our patented technologies have been successfully licensed, contributing to the development of FDA-approved New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) products. We continue to expand these innovations to support the functional application of phytochemicals in health and medical fields. Introductory video on enzymatic phosphorylation: the transformation of luteolin from insoluble to soluble form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VYBUkCF9BU
