Development of sonogenetics: a gene control system using acoustic waves

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K19394
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biology of Cells to Organisms, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Kumeta Masahiro 京都大学, 生命科学研究科, 助教 (00582181)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-06-30 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 音波 / ソノジェネティクス / 遺伝子 / 遺伝子操作 / 遺伝子工学 / 細胞分化 / メカノバイオロジー / 音響細胞生物学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To develop an acoustic gene control system, researches consist of the following 4 topics were carried out; 1) establishment of direct/indirect acoustic system for cultured cells, 2) whole genome-wide identification of sound-sensitive genes, 3) isolation of sound-sensitive genetic regions, and 4) investigation of acoustic effects on cell differentiation. By using custom-made acoustic systems, more than 400 sound-sensitive genes were identified by the RNA-seq analysis. Although several promoter regions of these genes exhibited sound-sensitive activity control, the level of the control was not as high as expected from the gene analyses. Continuous exposure of myoblast cells under differentiation medium with acoustic stimulation significantly induced myotube formation. These findings revealed the future utility of acoustic stimulation in next-generation gene/cell control techniques.

Free Research Field

生化学、細胞生物学、分子生物学、生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、音波により遺伝子や細胞をコントロールする技術の実現に向けた具体的な成果が得られたことは、音と生命の関係を根本的に転換する大きな学術的意義を持つ。この成果を元に音波が生命科学において用いられる汎用的なツールとなれば、基礎科学のみならず、応用科学や再生医療においても革新的なバイオテクノロジーの創出へとつながることが予想され、社会的にも大きな意義を持つ研究へと発展していくことが期待される。