Integrated acoustics and cell biology approach to develop sonogenetics

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21389
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 43:Biology at molecular to cellular levels, 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): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞工学 / 細胞分化 / 音波 / 音響

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study I aimed to reveal cell-level responses against acoustic stimulation, and planed a set of researches focusing on genetic, metabolic, and differentiation activities of cells. To understand gene responses against sound, genome-wide analyses were performed using next generation sequencing and identified ~200 sound-responsive genes. Cellular and acoustic factors affecting the response were also revealed. The effects of sound on metabolic and cell morphological activities were then investigated, including sound-dependent production of bioactive lipids and signal transduction through focal adhesion structure. Effects on cell differentiation for osteocyte and adipocyte were also revealed. These findings characterize sound as an environmental factor directly sensed at cell-level, and uncover fundamental relationships between life and sound.

Free Research Field

生命科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、生命は単一細胞レベルで音波を認識し応答することが明らかとなり、生命と音の根源的関係を解き明かす成果が得られた。また、遺伝子応答に至る細胞内シグナル伝達経路や、細胞分化に与える影響なども併せて明らかになったことで、「音」を細胞レベルで作用する因子として捉える新たな生命科学分野の開拓へとつながる、高い学術的意義をもつ成果が得られたとい考えている。今後、音波を用いて細胞のはたらきをコントロールする技術の開発などへとつなげることで、新たなバイオテクノロジーの創出など社会的意義の高い研究へと発展していくことが期待される。