Development of photoswitching proteins for optical manipulation of genes and cellular functions

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H04702
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 37:Biomolecular chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Sato Moritoshi 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 教授 (00323501)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-05 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 光スイッチタンパク質 / 光操作 / 遺伝子 / 細胞 / DNA組換え / Cre-loxP

Outline of Final Research Achievements

As a core technology that enables optical manipulation of biological processes occurring in deep tissues, we have developed a new photoswitch protein that can control the function of proteins by red light illuminaiton, which is highly permeable to biological tissues. Furthermore, by combining the photoswitch protein with DNA recombinase, we have developed a new technology that can control DNA recombination reactions with red light, and have demonstrated that this technology can control DNA recombination reactions in organs located deep within the mouse in vivo by non-invasive light illumination from outside the living body. This technology can control DNA recombination reactions in organs located deep inside the mouse (in vivo) by non-invasive light llumination from outside the body. This new photoswitch protein is expected to greatly expand the applicability of light manipulation of life phenomena.

Free Research Field

合成生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，生命現象の光操作の基盤技術として，新たな光スイッチタンパク質を開発するとともに，当該の光スイッチタンパク質を応用したDNA組換え反応の光操作技術を開発した．本研究の成果は，生命現象の解明や，遺伝子疾患や細胞治療など生命科学・医学分野を含む幅広い研究分野において役立つことが期待される．