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Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamic Conditions for Emergence of Life Revealed by Minimal Cells

Research Project

Project/Area Number 20H00120
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Review Section Medium-sized Section 13:Condensed matter physics and related fields
Research InstitutionTohoku University

Principal Investigator

Imai Masayuki  東北大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (60251485)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 川勝 年洋  東北大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (20214596)
佐久間 由香  東北大学, 理学研究科, 講師 (40630801)
浦上 直人  山口大学, 大学院創成科学研究科, 教授 (50314795)
Project Period (FY) 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help
¥46,410,000 (Direct Cost: ¥35,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥10,710,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥8,710,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,010,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥8,710,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,010,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥28,990,000 (Direct Cost: ¥22,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥6,690,000)
Keywordsミニマルセル / 自己生産 / エネルギー代謝 / 情報高分子 / 非平衡熱力学 / 生命の起源
Outline of Research at the Start

生命は高分子(タンパク質・核酸)、膜分子(脂質)などのソフトマターと呼ばれる分子の集合体が、それらの構成成分を合成する化学反応ネットワークと連携して増殖していく非平衡システムである。我々は、生命として最も基本的な性質「膜に囲まれたシステムが外部から原料を取り入れて自らのシステムを構築する分子を合成し(代謝)、それら分子群を用いてシステムを複製する(自己生産)、そして複製である子システムも親システムと同じ特性を有する(遺伝)」を持つ最小限のシステム(ミニマルセル)を人工的に構築し、そのミニマルセルの安定性を非平衡熱力学を基に明らかにすることにより生命の誕生の謎に迫る。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, succeeded in establish a most advanced minimal cell system. The ingredient (glucose) is taken in from the outside and reacted with glucose-oxidase to produce energy molecule (H2O2), which triggers the template polymerization of aniline on the AOT vesicle to synthesize PANI-ES with a specific monomer sequence. This PANI-ES incorporates AOT molecules in the external solution into the AOT vesicle. When cholesterol is also incorporated into the vesicle simultaneously, AOT + cholesterol vesicles show not only growth but also division. Furthermore, by controlling the osmotic pressure, sustainable reproduction of vesicles was attained.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

生命が物質からどのように誕生したのかは?最も大きな謎の一つである。現在、その謎に迫るために探査機を小惑星に送って生命を構成する基本分子を探したり、最小限の遺伝子を使って生命システムの最も基本的な性質である増殖を再現する研究などが行われている。しかし、この問題の一番の問題は「分子の集合体が増殖し、進化するための基本的な物理法則が存在するのか」という点である。これを明らかにするためには、生命システムのコピーを作るのではなく、既知の分子から自律的持続的に増殖するシステムを一から作り上げることが最も重要である。本研究はこの方針に沿って研究を行い、現時点で最も進んだ自己生産システムの構築に成功した。

Report

(5 results)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Annual Research Report
  • 2020 Comments on the Screening Results   Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (42 results)

All 2023 2022 2021 2020 Other

All Int'l Joint Research (7 results) Journal Article (7 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 6 results,  Peer Reviewed: 7 results,  Open Access: 3 results) Presentation (25 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results,  Invited: 4 results) Remarks (2 results) Funded Workshop (1 results)

  • [Int'l Joint Research] ETH(スイス)

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] Lund University(スウェーデン)

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] ETH(スイス)

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] Lund University(スウェーデン)

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] ETH(スイス)

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] Lund University(スウェーデン)

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Int'l Joint Research] Southern Denmark University(デンマーク)

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Synthesising a minimal cell with artificial metabolic pathways2023

    • Author(s)
      Kurisu Minoru、Katayama Ryosuke、Sakuma Yuka、Kawakatsu Toshihiro、Walde Peter、Imai Masayuki
    • Journal Title

      Communications Chemistry

      Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Pages: 56-56

    • DOI

      10.1038/s42004-023-00856-y

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] From vesicles toward protocells and minimal cells2022

    • Author(s)
      Imai Masayuki、Sakuma Yuka、Kurisu Minoru、Walde Peter
    • Journal Title

      Soft Matter

      Volume: 18 Issue: 26 Pages: 4823-4849

    • DOI

      10.1039/d1sm01695d

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Application of an enzymatic cascade reaction for the synthesis of the emeraldine salt form of polyaniline2021

    • Author(s)
      Kurisu Minoru、Kissner Reinhard、Imai Masayuki、Walde Peter
    • Journal Title

      Chemical Papers

      Volume: 75 Issue: 10 Pages: 5071-5085

    • DOI

      10.1007/s11696-021-01620-z

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report 2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Birthing of a daughter vesicle in a model system for self-reproduction vesicles2021

    • Author(s)
      Khunpetch Petch、Sakuma Yuka、Imai Masayuki、Kawakatsu Toshihiro
    • Journal Title

      Physics of Fluids

      Volume: 33 Issue: 7 Pages: 077103-077103

    • DOI

      10.1063/5.0052248

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Vesicle deformation and division induced by flip-flops of lipid molecules2021

    • Author(s)
      Urakami Naohito、Sakuma Yuka、Chiba Toshikaze、Imai Masayuki
    • Journal Title

      Soft Matter

      Volume: 17 Issue: 37 Pages: 8434-8445

    • DOI

      10.1039/d1sm00847a

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Growth and Division of Vesicles Coupled with Information Molecules2021

    • Author(s)
      KURISU Minoru、IMAI Masayuki、WALDE Peter
    • Journal Title

      Seibutsu Butsuri

      Volume: 61 Issue: 6 Pages: 378-381

    • DOI

      10.2142/biophys.61.378

    • NAID

      130008120207

    • ISSN
      0582-4052, 1347-4219
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Morphologies of Vesicle Doublets: Competition among Bending Elasticity, Surface Tension, and Adhesion2020

    • Author(s)
      Murakami Kei、Ebihara Ryuta、Kono Takuma、Chiba Toshikaze、Sakuma Yuka、Ziherl Primo?、Imai Masayuki
    • Journal Title

      Biophysical Journal

      Volume: 119 Issue: 9 Pages: 1735-1748

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.bpj.2020.09.030

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Synthesizing a minimal cell with artificial metabolic pathways2023

    • Author(s)
      栗栖実, 今井正幸
    • Organizer
      第47回生命の起原および進化学会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 配列情報とベシクル再生産の連携による原始進化2023

    • Author(s)
      馬場晶子 今井正幸 Ulf Olsson
    • Organizer
      第47回生命の起原および進化学会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Reproduction of Vesicles: The Bottom-up Design for Synthetic Minimal Cell2022

    • Author(s)
      Minoru Kurisu, Peter Walde, Yuka Sakuma, Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      第60回日本生物物理学会年会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] プロトセルの適応度地形2022

    • Author(s)
      Akiko Baba, Keidai Sato, Kazuki Yokoyama, Ulf Olsson, Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      第60回日本生物物理学会年会
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 人工的な代謝系を持つミニマルセルの合成2022

    • Author(s)
      栗栖実, Peter Walde, 今井正幸
    • Organizer
      細胞を創る研究会15.0
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] プロトセルの適応度地形2022

    • Author(s)
      馬場晶子 今井正幸 Ulf Olsson
    • Organizer
      細胞を創る研究会15.0
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 生命システムをソフトマターで再構築する2022

    • Author(s)
      今井正幸
    • Organizer
      高分子計算機科学研究会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] ベシクルの自己生産: 人工的なミニマルセルのデザイン2022

    • Author(s)
      栗栖実, Peter Walde, 今井正幸
    • Organizer
      第46回生命の起源および進化学会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] アミノ酸配列と連携した原始生体膜の成長2022

    • Author(s)
      馬場晶子, 横山和樹, 佐藤啓大, Ulf Olsson, 今井正幸
    • Organizer
      第46回生命の起原および進化学会学術講演会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] ソフトマターから見た生命システム:プロトセルから多細胞生物まで2021

    • Author(s)
      今井正幸
    • Organizer
      武蔵野大学数理工学シンポジウム
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Reproduction of vesicle coupled with chemical reaction network2021

    • Author(s)
      Masayuki Imai, Minoru Kurisu, Peter Walde
    • Organizer
      第59回日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Recursive vesicle reproduction system coupled with template polymerization of aniline: toward synthetic minimal cell2021

    • Author(s)
      Minoru Kurisu, Ryosuke Katayama, Yuka Sakuma, Peter Walde, Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      細胞を創る研究会14.0
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Oscillatory Phenomenon in Energy Production Pathway of Living System2021

    • Author(s)
      Seiji Hatano,Noboru Nagata,Yutetsu Kuruma,Toshihiro Kawakatsu,and Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      細胞を創る研究会14.0
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Reproduction cycles of vesicle coupled with template polymerization: toward autonomous synthetic protocell2021

    • Author(s)
      Minoru Kurisu, Ryosuke Katayama, Yuka Sakuma, Peter Walde, Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      第59回日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Growth of Primitive Cell Membrane Coupled with Amino Acid Sequence2021

    • Author(s)
      Akiko Baba, Keidai Sato, Kazuki Yokoyama, Ulf Olsson, and Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      第59回生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Oscillatory Phenomenon in Energy Production Pathway of Living System2021

    • Author(s)
      Seiji Hatano,Noboru Nagata,Yutetsu Kuruma,Toshihiro Kawakatsu,and Masayuki Imai
    • Organizer
      第59回日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Sustainable reproduction of vesicles coupled with surface confined template polymerization2020

    • Author(s)
      M. Kurisu, P. Walde, and M. Imai
    • Organizer
      From Soft Matter to Protocell 2020
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Reproduction of Vesicles coupled with a Membrane Surface-Confined Template Polymerization2020

    • Author(s)
      M. Kurisu, H. Aoki, T. Jimno, Y. Sakuma, S. Luginbuhl, P. Walde and M. Imai
    • Organizer
      Molecular Origins of Life 2020
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 膜面上の高分子合成と連携した持続的なベシクルの自己生産2020

    • Author(s)
      栗栖実, 青木春隆, 神保岳大, 佐久間由香, S. Luginbuhl, P. Walde, 今井正幸
    • Organizer
      日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Growth of Informational Molecules on Vesicle Surface2020

    • Author(s)
      蜂谷優人, 羽鳥日, 鳥谷部祥一, Steen Rasmussen, 今井正幸
    • Organizer
      日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Effect of Oligopeptides on Growth of Primitive Vesicles2020

    • Author(s)
      A. Baba, K. Yokoyama, U. Olsson, M. Imai
    • Organizer
      日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Glycolytic Oscillation in Yeast Induced by Nutrient Depletion2020

    • Author(s)
      波多野誠司、永田昇、車兪澈、川勝年洋、今井正幸
    • Organizer
      日本生物物理学会
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 膜成長と高分子合成が相互触媒的に連携した持続的自己生産系の構築2020

    • Author(s)
      栗栖 実, Peter Walde, 今井 正幸
    • Organizer
      「細胞を創る」研究会13.0
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 原始生体分子が誘起するベシクルの成長2020

    • Author(s)
      馬場晶子、今井正幸、Ulf Olsson
    • Organizer
      「細胞を創る」研究会 13.0
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] 栄養の枯渇が引き起こす酵母の解糖系振動現象2020

    • Author(s)
      波多野誠司、永田昇、車兪澈、川勝年洋、今井正幸
    • Organizer
      「細胞を創る」研究会 13.0
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Remarks] 東北大学理学研究科物理学専攻ソフトマター・生物物理研究室

    • URL

      https://www.bio.phys.tohoku.ac.jp

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report 2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Remarks] 東北大学理学研究科物理学専攻 ソフトマター・生物物理研究室

    • URL

      https://www.bio.phys.tohoku.ac.jp

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Funded Workshop] From Soft Matter to Protocell 20202020

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2020-04-28   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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