Encapsulating metabolic enzymes spatially organized on a nanoscaffold in an artificial compartment

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H01213
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bio-related chemistry
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: MORII TAKASHI 京都大学, エネルギー理工学研究所, 教授 (90222348)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 人工代謝経路 / DNAナノ構造体 / 人工コンパートメント / 分子コンビナート / ナノリポソーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The efficient transfer of intermediates from one enzyme to the other by spatial organization of enzyme molecules, as found in the compartments, is believed to be the key feature for well-organized flow of metabolites. The protein assembly on DNA scaffold is an ideal system to study the reaction of enzymes in various arrangements. We have developed a modular adaptor to locate an enzyme of interest at the specific position of DNA scaffold. By taking advantages of the highly orthogonal reaction of our modular adaptors, enzymes were successfully located in defined spatial arrangements on 2D or 3D DNA nanoscaffolds to construct artificial metabolic pathways. Such artificial systems enabled us to discover a novel mechanism to enhance the catalytic activity of enzyme. The artificial metabolic pathway on DNA nanoscaffold was encapsulated in nanoliposome. such a new system accelerates further applications of spatially well-defined enzyme assemblies in bioenergy systems and diagnostics.

Free Research Field

生物機能化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生体内代謝反応では、数多くの化学反応が同時に、副反応を限りなく抑えて進行する。このような多段階の反応が並行、かつ選択的に進行する物質変換法は、現在の有機合成化学でもまだ開拓されていない。細胞内代謝経路に関与する酵素群は、決められた小器官中の区画（コンパートメント）で空間的に近接した酵素組織体を形成して、多段階反応を効率よく進行させる。この細胞内物質変換系を細胞の外で実現できれば、高効率に多段階の物質変換をおこなう「分子コンビナート」、さらにナノ空間に分子コンビナートを内包した「複合触媒コンパートメント」が実現し、持続可能社会での環境負荷の少ない工業プロセスに貢献できる。