Predation of artificial cells by membrane protein engineering

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K17454
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Nano/Microsystems
• Research Institution: Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Fujii Satoshi 公益財団法人神奈川科学技術アカデミー, 人工細胞膜システムグループ, 研究員 (60619005)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 人工細胞 / リポソーム / 膜タンパク質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I developed an artificial cells which fuses each together, enabling the “growth” and “predation” of artificial cells. In the present system, the fusogenic activity is encoded in a chimeric gene, by combining a scaffold membrane protein, and a coiled coil domain. This gene was encapsulated in artificial cells and expressed by cell-free translation systems. The expressed proteins were integrated on lipid bilayer, and formed a heterodimer with the protein on the other artificial cells. Consequently, the artificial cells fused together, and the inner content was mixed. As the fusogenic activity is encoded in the gene information, this activity can now be modified by using the in vitro membrane protein evolution techniques.

Free Research Field

タンパク質工学