Sensing Surface Mechanical Deformation Using Active Probes Driven by Motor. Proteins(Fostering Joint International Research)

• Project/Area Number: 16KK0091
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biological physics/Chemical physics/Soft matter physics
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Kakugo Akira 北海道大学, 理学研究院, 准教授 (10374224)
• Research Collaborator: Hess Henry Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Professor
• Project Period (FY): 2016 – 2018
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥14,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥10,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,240,000)
• Keywords: アクティブプローブ / 微小管 / キネシン / メカノバイオロジー / バイオメカニクス / アクティブマター / ソフトマテリアル / 生体分子モーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Studying mechanical deformation at the surface of soft materials has been challenging due to the difficulty in separating surface deformation from the bulk elasticity of the materials. To overcome this issue, we introduced a new approach for studying the surface mechanical deformation of a soft material by utilizing a large number of self-propelled microprobes driven by motor proteins on the surface of the material. Information about the surface mechanical deformation of the soft material is obtained through changes in mobility of the microprobes wandering across the surface of the soft material. The active microprobes respond to mechanical deformation of the surface and readily change their velocity and direction depending on the extent and mode of surface deformation. In this project we explored possible applications that could benefit not only the surface science but also the life science.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

微小管を含めた自走性の「アクティブマター」はナノサイエンス分野および物性物理学分野から注目を集めている。しかし、マクロスコピックな視点に立った現象論的な研究に終始している。特に、ナノサイエンス分野から見たアクティブマター研究は、米国に大きく後れを取っている。双方の分野で培われた方法論や技術共有による融合研究は、基課題の飛躍的発展をもたらすとともにアクティブマター研究の新たな潮流を生み出すと期待される。特に本研究課題は、ソフトマター分野を支える測定・解析・分析技術の開発、また生物の構造や運動を力学的に探求するバイオメカニクスやメカノバイオロジー分野などにも貢献しうると期待している。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] コロンビア大学(米国) (2017)
  • Year and Date: 2017-04-01
• [Journal Article] Visualising the dynamics of live pancreatic microtumours self-organised through cell-in-cell invasion (2018)
  • Author(s): Miyatake Y, Kuribayashi-Shigetomi K, Ohta Y, Ikeshita S, Subagyo A, Sueoka K, Kakugo A, Amano M, Takahashi T, Okajima T, Kasahara M
  • Journal Title: Scientific Reports Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Pages: 14054-14054
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32122-w
  • NAID: 120006539250
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Molecular Encapsulation Inside Microtubules Based on Tau-Derived Peptides (2018)
  • Author(s): Inaba Hiroshi、Yamamoto Takahisa、Kabir Arif Md. Rashedul、Kakugo Akira、Sada Kazuki、Matsuura Kazunori
  • Journal Title: Chemistry - A European Journal Volume: 24 Issue: 56 Pages: 14958-14967
  • DOI: 10.1002/chem.201802617
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Microtubule: Can they serve as a mechanotransducer? (2019)
  • Author(s): Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: Workshop on Soft and Nano Materials Orchestrated with Wisdom from Japan 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 力学ストレスに対する細胞骨格「微小管」の応答特性と生化学的機能に及ぼす影響 (2018)
  • Author(s): 角五 彰
  • Organizer: 第11回ナノバイオ若手ネットワーキングシンポジウム
• [Presentation] Collective motion of microtubules forms unique pattern in response to external mechanical perturbation (2018)
  • Author(s): Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: Hokkaido-Strasbourg Symposium: Biotic and Abiotic Molecular Machines and Motors
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] How mechanical deformation of microtubules affects their functionalities (2018)
  • Author(s): Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: The 1st “Molecules, Materials, Devices and Systems”
  • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
• [Presentation] Microtubule Deformation has Effect on Cargo Transportation by Motor Proteins (2018)
  • Author(s): Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: 9th CSE (Chemical Sciences and Engineering) Summer School
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Microtubule Buckling Affects Cargo Transportation by Molecular Motor (2018)
  • Author(s): Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: 1st International Conference on 4D Materials and Systems, Gel Symposium, 2018
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Deformation of Microtubule by External Mechanical Stress Affect its Functionality Asymmetrically (2018)
  • Author(s): Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: 6th International Symposium on Ambitious Leader’s Program for Fostering Future Leaders to Open New Frontiers in Materials Science
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Microtubule Deformation by External Stimuli Affects its Functionality (2018)
  • Author(s): Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: Learning Satellite Program 2018 Hokkaido University
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Mechanobiology in Intracellular Cargo Transportation: Effect of Deformation of Microtubule on Dynein-based Cargo Transportation (2018)
  • Author(s): Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
  • Organizer: 1st Glowing Polymers Symposium, 2018
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Remarks] 北海道大学大学院理学研究院化学部門物質化学研究室
  • URL: https://wwwchem.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/~matchemS/
• [Funded Workshop] Workshop on Soft and Nano Materials Orchestrated with Wisdom from Japan 2019 (2019)