Kana Ishimatsu

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Postdoctoral fellow
Department of Systems Biology
Harvard Medical School

Title

Integrating Developmental Biology and Synthetic Gene Network

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

In pattern formation processes of multi-cellular organisms, many cells coordinate their behaviors, generating an orchestrated behavior. To address this mechanism, understanding dynamics of cell-cell communication is essential. Here I will utilize 'synthetic gene networks' that can program gene expression in order to examin the cell-cell communication dynamics in a group of clock cells. In particular, I will focus on how the robust pattern formation is acheived in the developmental process, in which a system size drastically changes.

Hidehiko Inomata

Team Leader
RIKEN CDB Axial Pattern Dynamics
Riken

Title

Regulatory mechanisms of scaling in ensuring robust proportional similarity of the embryo.

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

During the developmental process, various tissues are organized at the appropriate spaces within the embryo in a precise manner. In this process, the local pattern formations should be enlarged or reduced according to the embryonic size, and this phenomenon is termed scaling. In my project, I will quantify the parameters (e.g., diffusion, production and degradation of signaling molecules) that regulate the dynamics of the embryonic pattern formation in vivo and construct the mathematical model to elucidate regulatory mechanisms of scaling.

Motomu Endo

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Biostudies
Kyoto University

Title

Constructive approach for understanding tissue-specific clock functions in plants

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

The biological clock is one of the fundamental mechanisms to adress enviromenta changes and many genes are regulated by the clock. Tissue-specific clock functions have been assumed in plants but this hypothesis has not been tested because of technical problems. Here, by using constructive approach, we aim to figure out tissu-specific clock functions in plants.

Fumi Kano

Associate Professor
Institute of Innovative Research
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Title

Establishment of disease model cells by resealing cell technique

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

Semi-intact cells are cells, whose plasma membrane is permeabilized with pore forming streptococcal toxin Streptolysin O. Recently, we have developed an innovative method for resealing plasma membranes after introducing cytosol: a resealing cell technique. One goal of this study is the establishment of disease model cells by changing the intracellular condition to the disease states by introducing the pathogenic cytosol, which is prepared from the organs of disease model mice, into the cells. The disease model cells enable investigating the aberrant molecular network in the intracellular disease condition and further being applied as screening system for drug discovery.

Motoshi Kaya

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Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Science
University of Tokyo

Title

Visalization of single protein molecule dynamics revealing its functional characteristics in assembly of proteins and in vivo organs

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

In order to understand the functional characteristics of single protein molecules integrated into the different hierarchical structures, such as assembly of proteins, cells, and organs, skeletal muscle myosins are investigated at in-vitro and in-vivo experimental condtions. The high accuracy imaging system will be developed to detect dynamics of the targeted single myosin in in-vitro synthetic myosin filaments (multiple-myosin molecule systems) and in-vivo mouse skeletal muscles. Based on these experimental results combined with the theoretical model, the functional charcteristics of single protein molecules at different hierarchical structures will be clarified.

Yuki Goto

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Science
The University of Tokyo

Title

Discovery and production of artificial secondary metabolites

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

Biosynthetic enzymes for secondary metabolites play roles in production of various natural products bearing diverse peculiar structures. In this research program, we will create a cell-free artificial biosynthesis system by reconstituting translation system and posttranslational biosynthetic enzymes in vitro. By utilizing this artificial system, we are aiming at in vitro biosynthesis of diverse unnatural compounds as well as discovery of “artificial secondary metabolites” exhibiting unique bioactivities. We will also address creation of artificial cells producing the artificial secondary metabolites.

Satoshi Sawai

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Associate Professor
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
University of Tokyo

Title

Towards understanding and manipulation of self-organizing aspects of cell shape dynamics and cell motility.

Standard type Period：5years

Summary

The project focuses on self-organizing dynamics of the sensory system and motility in amoeboid cells. The aim is to quantitatively analyze spatio-temporal patterning of the spontanoeus dynamics in phosphoinoisties lipid signaling and F-actin network by live-cell imaging and understand its basic properties from dynamics inherent in non-equillibrium non-linear systems. Through model prediction and live-cell manipulation, the project will investigate the system-level principle underlying amoeboid movement and seeks to remotely control the cellular dynamics.

Masayuki Suetsugu

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Associate Professor
Dept. of Life Sciences
Rikkyo University

Title

Reconstitution of Oscillation Circuit for Chromosome Replication

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

Chromosome replication is a fundamental event for self-replication of cells. The initiator activity for chromosome replication oscillates in Escherichia coli cells. This oscillation can be explained by initiator regulation network including a feedback loop. In this project, I aim to reconstitute the “initiator oscillation circuit” and thereby to drive “periodic chromosome replication cycle.“

Masahiro Takinoue

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Associate Professor
Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Tokyo Institute of Technology

Title

Quantitative analysis for spatiotemporal dynamics of nonequilibrium artificial cell models

Standard type Period：3years

Summary

This project aims for (i) developing a fundamental technology for quantitative analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of nonequilibrium artificial cells, and (ii) revealing life systems based on a constructive approach in terms of time-evolving self-organized molecular systems far from equilibrium. Microfluidic technology achieves the construction of nonequilibrium artificial cells; the micrometer-sized spaces, liquids, an interfaces of the artificial cell are precisely controlled by the microfluidic technology. In addition, quantitative analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of molecular reactions in and out of the artificial cells is realized by biophysical technology.

Kazuhito Tabata

Lecturer
Department of Applied Chemistry
The university of Tokyo

Title

Development of bacterium reconstitution device

High Impact type Period：3years

Summary

Living cell is impossible to reconstitute even if proteins and DNA are collected and mixed together. I think this is because that the state of membranes and protein concentration in a cell is lost. So in this research, I will develop a method to reconstitute bacteria by using a micro-device without its state of being lost. And through this research, I will approach the principle of how each cell function is integrated and the more complicated system of living organism is created.

Noriko Funayama

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Associate professor
Graduate School of Science, Dept. of Biophysics
Kyoto-University

Title

Toward understanding the mechanisms by which sponges construct the spiculous skeleton that supports the sponge body

Standard type Period：5years

Summary

The Spiculous skeletons of glass sponges such as of Eupletella sp. are well known not only for their beauty but also their outstanding mechanical rigidity.　It is fascinating to clarify the mechanisms by which spicules are held-up and connected to construct the skeleton while sponges develop and expand their body. Based on our previous work about the identification of multiple types of cells that are involved in spiculous skeleton construction in freshwater sponges, we will attempt to clarify the fundamental rules that govern how these multiple types of cells interact and coordinate to construct the spiculous skeleton in a stepwise manner. We also will focus on how sponges sense the environmental and mechanical forces and modify the spiculous skeleton to adjust them.

Yusuke Maeda

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Associate Professor
Faculty of Sciences
Kyushu University

Title

Understanding the origins of life through molecular transport: Dynamic coupling of structure, information, transport and its application to new molecular manipulation

High Impact type Period：3years

Summary

How can the boundary between life and matters be accounted for? To address this issue, I investigate non-equilibrium transport phenomenon for which polymers such as RNA are accumulated and separated. Its mechanism can establish new physical systems in biology and may give a scenario relevant for the origins of life. Moreover, by using little material dependence of the transport phenomenon, an innovative molecular manipulation that allows us to reconstruct cell functions and tissues is invented.

Satoru Mochida

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Associate Professor
POIE
Kumamoto University

Title

Reconstitution of the cell division cycle in vitro

Standard type Period：5years

Summary

Replication of the principal element of lives, DNA, has already been reconstituted in vitro. In this research project, we aim to reconstitute the cell division cycle using defined factors for a better understading of what life is. Since that protein phosphorylation is the major driving force of this phenomenon, analyses of protein phosphatases as well as kinase would lead to an in-vitro reconstitution of the cell cycle.