Organization of artificial cells into an assembled model that can express orchestrated dynamic behavior through cell junction networks

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06540
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 43030:Functional biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: Mie University
• Principal Investigator: Tsumoto Kanta 三重大学, 工学研究科, 教授 (80362359)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀧口 金吾 名古屋大学, 理学研究科, 講師 (20262842)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 人工細胞 / リポソーム / GUV / 細胞骨格 / 細胞接着 / バキュロウイルス / 脂質二分子膜 / マイクロコンパートメント

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To achieve the constitution of artificial cell assemblies, we’ve basically investigated the following experimental concerns. 1) Membrane fusion between baculovirus budded virions (BVs) and GUVs prepared using the reverse-phase/centrifugation method were analyzed and phosphatidylethanolamine was found to serve as cofactor promoting the fusion. We developed lipid-membrane coated silica microbeads containing recombinant proteins introduced by BVs. 2) Expression of cell adhesion proteins and FERM proteins on BVs were investigated. 3) GUV assembly were able to be induced by the aforesaid adhesive proteins. 4) Aqueous/aqueous microdroplets in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) could be used for an efficient vessel concentrating cytoskeletal proteins.

Free Research Field

Molecular Bioengineering

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細胞はとてもよくできたシステムであるが、設計者はいない。生命の起源からあと、自然に出来てきたものである。現代の細胞、その集まりがもつ仕組みに学んで、何とか、それに近い構造機能の一部でも実現した「人工細胞」が作れないか、という研究は、細胞の持つ生命機能を切り取り際立たせるという意味では、メディカルライフサイエンスに資する発明の基礎にもなりうる。本研究では、細胞接着分子や細胞骨格を導入し、巨大リポソーム（Giant Unilamellar Vesicles; GUVs）等をベースに人工細胞モデル構築を試みた。