Construction of an artificial cell capable of gene expression in response to odorants

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15149
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 28050:Nano/micro-systems-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Tonooka Taishi 京都工芸繊維大学, 機械工学系, 助教 (50745031)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 人工細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We proceeded with research on the mechanism of gene expression in response to calcium ion concentration. This mechanism is centered on a protein called the Downstream-regulatory-element agonist modulator (DREAM) that exists in mammalian cells. This protein suppresses downstream gene expression by binding to the Downstream regulatory element (DRE) sequence on the genome in the absence of calcium ions. On the other hand, in the presence of calcium ions, DREAM dissociates from the DRE sequence and gene expression is reactivated. In this study, we investigated the interaction between DNA having a DRE sequence and the DREAM protein using a cell-free protein expression system.

Free Research Field

合成生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

カルシウムイオン濃度に応答する遺伝子発現機構を人工細胞内で利用する際の指針が示された。匂い受容体の中には、匂い受容の際に陽イオンを細胞内に取り込むことにより情報伝達を行うものがある。このような匂い受容体を人工細胞に搭載した際には、陽イオンの一種であるカルシウムイオンも同時に人工細胞内に取り込まれると考えられ、本研究で得られた知見と組み合わせることにより、匂い応答可能な人工細胞を実現できると期待される。