Development of molecular probes and photo manipulation tools - Technologies for visualization and control of small number of biomolecules

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Spying minority in biological phenomena -Toward bridging dynamics between individual and ensemble processes-
• Project/Area Number: 23115003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Nagai Takeharu 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 教授 (20311350)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KINNBARA KAZUSHI 東京工業大学, 生命理工学研究科, 教授 (30282578) ; HORIKAWA KAZUKI 徳島大学, 医歯薬学研究部, 教授 (70420247)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SANDO SHINSUKE 東京大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (20346084) ; URANO YASUTERU 東京大学, 薬学研究科, 教授 (20292956) ; OZAWA TAKEAKI 大阪大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (40302806) ; MATSUDA TOMOKI 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 准教授 (50419206) ; ARAI YOSHIYUKI 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 助教 (20444515)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 光スイッチング / 蛍光タンパク質 / 超解像イメージング / 光摂動 / 顕微鏡 / 細胞性粘菌 / cAMP / 走化性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a wide variety of tools to visualize physiological events caused by small number of biomolecules, and also to manipulate molecular number inside cells with light. Included are photo-switchable fluorescent proteins, fluorescent/bioluminescent biosensor proteins, photosensitizer proteins, caged amino acids, ligand-responsive ion channel, microscope with a device for patterned illumination and cavity-reflection-enhanced absorption microscope. We supported researches in other groups by applying these technologies. Moreover, with the developed tools we approached the molecular mechanism of chemotaxis in D. discoidium, and discovered biomolecules that can function at very low concentrations (several tens molecules/um^2). We also found that very small population of cells among thousands of cell have a predominant role in self-organizing aggregation pattern formation.

Free Research Field

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