|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| Research
Directors |
|
 |
|
Prof. Toyoki
Kunitake
Dept. of Engineering, Applied Materials,
Kyusyu University |
|
 |
|
Prof. John
Osborn
University of Louis Pasteur |
|
|
Counterpart Organization: University of Louis Pasteur
(France)
Supporting National Agency: Ministere de l'Education
Nationale/French National Center for Scientific Research
(CNRS) |
|
|
| We conducted studies on primitive biomembranes
aiming to elucidate how molecules acquired the ability to
self-assemble during the origin of life. Through a cooperative
research with France, we intended to build molecular systems
advantageous to catalytic responses by bringing the properties
of supramolecular structures into the artificial systems. |
|
| Systematically synthesizing terpenoid with
molecules to reinforce membranes, we defined the self-assembly
system and further developed the topography analysis for the
structural components of biomembranes. It came to fruition
in protoplasts stability with hydrophobic polysaccharide,
and the development of substances for membrane fusion, promotion
of transferring membrane proteins. Moreover, we achieved pioneering
findings: encoded self-assemblies of molecules; chirality
selection in self-assembling; creating molecular networks
and 2D molecular patterns; molecular recognition of the type
of hydrogen bonds at the interface, etc. We expect that those
finings will be applied to biotechnologies or medicine and
also it is presumed that synthesizing various ultra-thin membranes
by alternately stacking layers will have a strong impact upon
future material developments. |
|
