Kentaro Inoue

KENTARO INOUE

Birth: 1968, Niihama, Japan
Death: August 31, 2016, West Sacramento, California

Education:

• B.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
• M.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
• Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo

Employment:

• 1990s: Postdoctoral Researcher, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Oklahoma
• Late 1990s: Postdoctoral Researcher, Michigan State University
• 2002–2016: Assistant to Full Professor, Department of Pomology (later Plant Sciences), University of California, Davis

Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies:

• ASUCD Excellence in Education Award, UC Davis, for outstanding teaching
• Contributor, Postharvest Technology of Horticultural Crops Short Course, UC Davis
• Member, American Society of Plant Biologists

Research Contributions and Impact

Kentaro Inoue was an accomplished plant biochemist specializing in chloroplast biology, plastid biogenesis, protein trafficking, membrane development, and isoprenoid metabolism. His work advanced understanding of how proteins are transported, folded, and integrated into plant organelles — processes fundamental to photosynthesis and plant growth.

He contributed to the characterization of carotenoid and pigment pathways, including disorders such as citrus peel re-greening, and developed assays that provided valuable insights for the citrus industry. His collaborative projects extended to the metabolic engineering of plastids and studies of protein chaperones, advancing both basic plant biology and applied agricultural science.

Even after his passing, his legacy continued through the published work of his graduate students on chloroplast protein sorting and chaperone mechanisms in The Plant Cell, ensuring that his final scientific contributions reached the global plant science community.

Publications and Scholarly Leadership

Inoue authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles in leading journals such as The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology. His research, which combined molecular genetics and biochemistry, answered fundamental questions about organelle biology and had a lasting influence on the field.

Teaching and Mentorship

Inoue was widely recognized for his excellence in teaching. Students honored him with the Excellence in Education Award, praising his ability to make complex subjects, including plastid biogenesis and photosynthesis, engaging and accessible.

As a mentor, he guided graduate students and postdocs with rigor, humor, and generosity, emphasizing the importance of independent thinking and scientific citizenship. Following his death, his final Ph.D. students completed their degrees under the mentorship of a colleague, a testament to how well he had prepared them to succeed.

Collaboration and Community

Colleagues remembered Inoue for his generosity, collegiality, and humor. He collaborated widely, bridging disciplines within plant biology and contributing to postharvest research, citrus biology, and graduate education. Known for his dry wit and kindness, he was equally respected as a scientist and as a friend.

Beyond the laboratory, Inoue was a passionate cyclist and active member of the Davis biking community. His approach to research and cycling reflected similar values: patience, focus, and determination.

Legacy

Kentaro Inoue is remembered as a brilliant scientist, a gifted teacher, and a supportive mentor whose impact endures through his students, publications, and collaborations. His work deepened global understanding of chloroplast biology and plant biochemistry, while his kindness and humor left an indelible mark on the UC Davis community.

References

For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources:

• University of California Academic Senate
• UC Davis News:  Inoue Graduates