Physical approach from soft matter to artificial cell

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Synergy of Fluctuation and Structure:Foundation of Universal Laws in Nonequilibrium Systems
• Project/Area Number: 25103009
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Science and Engineering
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Imai Masayuki 東北大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (60251485)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐久間 由香 東北大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (40630801) ; 菅原 正 神奈川大学, 理学部, 教授 (50124219) ; 豊田 太郎 東京大学, 総合文化研究科, その他 (80422377)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 人工細胞 / ベシクル / 情報分子 / 自己駆動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to create the molecular assembly (artificial cell) having the essential functions of cellular life (heredity using information molecules, metabolism, self-reproduction of container) and the self-propelling ability. We will reveal the physical background of the cellular life through the artificial cells. 1) We have succeeded to create two types of artificial cells. Both of them demonstrate the vesicle reproduction coupled with the information molecules. One of them shows a primitive model cell cycle comprising four discrete phases (ingestion, replication, maturity and division), i.e., repeatable cell division. Both artificial cell has a potential of heredity and evolvability through the information molecules. 2)We also succeeded to create self-propelled tubular vesicles triggered by chemical stimuli, where the migration is coupled with the wavy motion of the tube. These findings shed light on the way from the molecular assembly to the cellular life.

Free Research Field

ソフトマター物理学