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December 15, 2011
Professor Kazuaki Ishihara (Ishihara team, Nagoya University ) succeeded in creating new catalysts for the dehydrative ester condensation under aqueous conditions. Based on enzyme reactions where hydrophilic moieties protect the enzyme's hydrophilic active center, they designed a water-tolerant structure for the catalysts, in which bulky N,N-diarylamines protect active pyrosulfuric acid salt species. This can be applied to unusual selective esterifications and dehydrative glycosylation. The result was published as a paper titled " Hydrophobic N,N-Diarylammonium Pyrosulfates as Dehydrative Condensation Catalysts under Aqueous Conditions " Org. Lett., Article ASAP DOI: 10.1021/ol2027366 Publication Date (Web): November 29, 2011. Chunichi newspaper reported this finding.

October 25, 2011
Professor Akira Harada (Harada team, Osaka University ) succeeded in creating living organism-like supramolecular materials with redox-stimuli responsive and self-healing properties through host-guest interaction. A transparent supramolecular hydrogel quickly forms upon mixing water-soluble poly(acrylic acid)(PAA) having beta-cyclodextrin as a host polymer with PAA having ferrocene as a guest polymer. They found self-healing-like re-adhesion when cutting the gel and contacting cut surfaces each other. But the re-adhesion was not seen when ferrocene groups at the cut surfaces were oxidized and they lost their host-guest interaction ability. The result was published as a paper titled " Redox-responsive self-healing materials formed from host-guest polymers "on Nature Communications 2, Article number511 doi:10.1038/ncomms1521. 01106497 as well as a press release of Osaka university. News papers such as Tokyo also reported this finding.

October 25, 2011
Professor Kazuaki Ishihara (Ishihara team, Nagoya University ) succeeded in creating taylor-made catalysts that have an elaborate enzyme-like keyhole. Although exo-drivatives are commonly obtained in a Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiens with alpha-substituted acroleins, they found for the first time that these catalysts enable us to synthesize endo-derivatives as a principal product. The catalysts are a chiral supramolucular aggregate from optically-active ligands of naphthalene nucleus, boron acids and borane derivatives and have a reactive center in their deep enzyme-like self-assembled pocket in which a cyclopentadien and an alpha-substituted acrolein could be placed easily in endo-configuration. This approach is expected to contribute to creation of new drugs since Diels-Alder reactions are known to be used for a synthesis of prostaglandins that help smooth muscle-contracting activity. The result was published as a paper titled "Enantioselective Diels-Alder Reactions with Anomalous endo/exo Selectivities Using Conformationally Flexible Chiral Supuramolecular Catalysts" Angewante Chemie International Edition online 25 Oct 2011, doi: 10.1002/ange.201106497 as well as a press release of Nagoya university. News papers such as Nikkei-Sangyo, Nikkan-Kogyo and Kagaku-Kogyo Nippo also reported this finding.

August 28, 2011
Professor Yasuo Mori (Sugiyama team, Kyoto University ) found for the first time that TRP(transient receptor potential) ion channels in cellular membranes of aerobic organisms have function of sensing Oxygen(O2). O2 is essential for respiration in aerobic organism but it also has toxicity when transformed into reactive oxygen. To understand how the organisms cope with the ambivalent physiological nature, it is critical to elucidate the molecular mechanisms for O2 sensing. A systematic evaluation of TRP1 revealed that TRP1 in hypoxia is activated and opened in a completely different way from TRP1 in hyperoxia. Cation currents generated by the opened TRP1 elicit respiratory reflex via vagal and sensory neurons. But, they revealed that in mice lack of the TRPA1 gene inhibits the process and develops more serious lung damage. These findings were published as "TRPA1 underlies a sensing mechanism for O2 " in Nature Chemical Biology August 28, 2011, doi: 10.1038/nchembio.640. , which Kyoto university announced on its press release, followed by newspapers like Yomiuri, Sankei, Kyoto and Nikkankogyo.

July 6, 2011
Professor Naotoshi Nakashima (Nakashima team, Kyushu University ) succeeded in the selective cell detachment and collection from an single wall carbon nanotube(SWNT) coated cell culture dish triggered by near-IR pulse laser irradiation. Shockwave generation from the irradiated SWNTs is expected to play an important role for the cell detachment. The captured cell maintained its original shape and genetic information. A target single-cell collection from a culture medium is significant in wide fields of single-cell studies. A paper titled " Near-IR Laser-Triggered Target Cell Collection Using a Carbon Nanotube-Based Cell-Cultured Substrate " was published in ACS Nano , 2011, 5 (6), pp 4414_4421DOI: 10.1021/nn2012767. Nature Nanotechnology outlined this finding as a research highlight in July, 2011.

June 14, 2011
In both CREST and PRESTO, "Invitation for Application of Research Proposals(2nd Term)" was started. Applicantions shall be done by August 10,2011.

June 5, 2011
Professor Shin-ichi Ohkoshi ( Ohkoshi team, the University of Tokyo ) successfully developed a new kind of light-induced switching in magnetism from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic. The newly designed solid material, composed of Fe ion and organic molecule, shows the unprecedented magnetism caused by a light-induced spin crossover, a phase transition between the low-spin (LS) and high-spin (HS) states of transition-metal ions. The magnetic phase transition is observed at 20 K, and reversibly returned when heated. This can be a first step in creating structurally flexible light-induced magnet. A paper titled " Light-induced spin-crossover magnet" was published in Nature Chemistry (DOI: doi:10.1038/nchem.1067 online 05 June 2011) as well as a joint press release of the University of Tokyo and JST. News papers such as Nikkei, Nikkan-Kogyo and Kagaku-Kogyo Nippo also reported this finding.

March 15, 2011
In both CREST and PRESTO, "Invitation for Application of Research Proposals(1st Term)" was started. Applicantions shall be done by May 10,2011 for PRESTO and May 17,2011 for CREST.

March 7, 2011
A research highlight titled “Carbon nanotubes: Non-stick films(doi:10.1038/asiamat.2011.38)” reported by Professor N. Nakashima (Nakashima team, Kyushu University) was issued on NPG Asia Materials. This optically transparent and conducting single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films could replace the indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes widely used in displays, charge-coupled device sensors for cameras and other applications.

February 7, 2011
Professor H. Sugiyama (Sugiyama team, Kyoto University) successfully directed the operation of a molecular transport system where a loaded DNA motor moved autonomously along the full length of a DNA track on a two-dimensional DNA scaffold designed with the self-assembling origami method. Real-time atomic force microscopy allows direct observation of the motor. This could lead to the realization of molecular robots that move around in a mesoscopic space of a few hundreds nanometers and a technology that enables us to deliver drugs to a targeted area. A paper titled "Direct Observation of Stepwise Movement of a Synthetic Molecular Transporter "was published in "Nature Nanotechnology DOI: doi:10.1038/nnano.2010.284, 06 February 2011" and Kyoto university and JST issued a joint-press release. Nikkei and Nikkan Kogyo newspapers covered this achievement.

January 19, 2011
Until now, carbon dioxide causing environmental issues has not effectively been used as industrial material because of its unusual stability and lower reactivity. Professor N. Iwasawa (Iwasawa team, Tokyo Institute of Technology) has developed for the first time the direct aryl C-H bond carboxylation reaction of 2-arylpyridine etc. using carbon dioxide in atmospheric pressure via active nucleophilic aryl Rhodium (I) catalyst intermediate. A paper titled "Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Direct Carboxylation of Arenes with CO2 via Chelation-Assisted C-H Bond Activation "was published in J. Am. Chem. Soc., ASAP DOI: 10.1021/ja109097z Publication Date (Web): December 30, 2010. This approach demonstrates promising application of C-H bond strategy in the field of carbon dioxide fixation. Yomiuri and Asahi newspaper covered this impressive finding.

November 15, 2010
Molecular recognition plays an important role in biological reactions and that includes the complementary pair-formation of nucleobases in DNA. Professor A. Harada (Harada team, Osaka University) has developed for the first time a new method that can control materials to adhere to one another on the order of centimeters in size through the mutual molecular recognition, a function that allows cyclodextrins as a host to take a guest molecule into its cyclic space. This method will be expected to advance new techniques that can freely integrate/align different materials by fixing host and guest molecules on their surface. The result titled ”Macroscopic self-assembly through molecular recognition” was published in Nature Chemistry online(14 November 2010) as well as a joint press release of Osaka University and JST. News papers including Kyodo-Tsushin, Nikkan-Kogyo, Nikkei-Sangyo also reported this result.

September 15, 2010
A paper on “Mechanical Tuning of Molecular Recognition To Discriminate the Single-Methyl-Group Difference between Thymine and Uracil " studied by a principal investigator K. Ariga (Ariga team, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS),) was published in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132 (37), pp 12868-12870, Publication Date (Web): August 31, 2010, then the press release was issued by NIMS on September 15. The novel cholesterol-armed triazacyclononane was synthesized as a host molecule and subjected to structural tuning by compression of its Langmuir monolayers.. The result reveals that the monolayer of triazacyclononane host selectively recognizes thymine over adenine (ca. 64 times). The concept of mechanical tuning of a host structure for optimization of molecular recognition offers a novel methodology in host-guest chemistry. The newly advanced hand-operating nano-technology is expected to be applied for identifying DNA gene sequences, detecting genetic disease, precise sensing of other biological substances such as chiral amino acids.

August 25, 2010
A paper on “Strong Micro-Dielectric Environment Effect on the Band Gaps of (n,m)Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes" reported by Professor N. Nakashima (Nakashima team, Kyushu University) was published in J. Am. Chem. Soc., Article ASAP(August 25, 2010). In situ photoluminescence (PL) spectroelectrochemistry of the films containing 15 isolated (n,m)single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) cast on ITO electrodes in organic solvents including DMSO, acetonitirile, DMF, THF, and chloroform was completed and then the oxidation and reduction potentials, and band gaps (ΔEelectr) of the (n,m)SWNTs in the solvents were determined. The result reveals that the ΔEelectr of the (n,m)SWNTs become greater as the solvent dielectric constants decreased, which is in sharp contrast to the optical band gaps (ΔEopt) that show virtually no solvent dependence, indicating such a strong solvent dependence of the electrochemical band gaps is due to the difference in the solvation energy of the charged SWNTs produced during the electrochemical processes.

July 26, 2010
Kagaku Kogyo Nippo’s special feature article this summer showed a research result by Professor K. Ishihara (Ishihara team, Nagoya University) with a title “Seeking creation of future pharmaceutical products” , a finding that hypervalent iodine catalysts allow us to produce chiral benzofuran products in good yield and selectivity.

June 10, 2010
A paper on "Quaternary Ammonium (Hypo)iodite Catalysis for Enantioselective Oxidative Cycloetherification" by Professor K. Ishihara (Ishihara team, Nagoya University) was published in Science (11 June 2010:Vol. 328. no. 5984, pp. 1376 - 1379) as well as a joint press release of Nagoya University and JST.
Newspapers such as Chunichi, Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, Nikkan-Kogyo, Nikkei Sangyo , Kagaku-Kogyo Nippo, Chemistry World (Royal Society of Chemistry, UK) and Chemical & Engineering News, June 14, 2010 also ran an article that instead of using metal catalysts, hypervalent iodine catalysts oxidized by hydrogen peroxide and chiral quaternary ammonium cations give chiral benzofuran products in good yield and selectivity only with water as a byproduct. This newly advanced and greener reaction technique is expected to be applied for the efficient production of physiologically activity substances having similar benzofuran structures.

May 18, 2010
A paper on "Fluidic supramolecular nano- and microfibres as molecular rails for regulated movement of nanosubstances" by Professor I. Hamachi (Hamachi team, Kyoto University) was published in Nature Communications ( 1, Article number: 20, 17 May, 2010) as well as a joint press release of Kyoto University and JST.
Newspapers such as Kyoto, Sankei, Nikkei Sangyo and Kagaku Kogyo etc. reported this research finding that an artificial supramolecular rail using the fluidic property of self-assembled nano fibres has sufficient fluidity to function as a molecular track for the directional movement of attached molecules, proteins and nano beads along the fibre.

May 10, 2010
A paper on "Programmed-assembly system using DNA jigsaw pieces" by Professor H. Sugiyama (Sugiyama team, Kyoto University) was published in. Chemistry - A European Journal Volume 16, Issue 18, 10 May 2010, Pages 5362-5368., reporting a novel method for assembling multiple DNA origami structures by binding designed 2D DNA origami rectangles (jigsaw pieces) via the concavity and convex connectors in response to programmed base sequences etc. Three-, four-, and five-letter words have been displayed by using this programmed DNA jigsaw piece system.

April 23, 2010
A paper on "Which is the actual catalyst: chiral phosphoric acid or chiral calcium phosphate?" by Professor K. Ishihara (Ishihara team, Nagoya University) was published in Angewante Chemie - International Edition (Volume 49, Issue 22, 17 May 2010, Pages 3823-3826). This report shows that based on the use of a chiral phosphoric acid, highly selective enantiomers are produced in response to the presence or absence of Ca(II). Chunichi newspaper ran an article on Apr 23 about this finding.

March 16, 2010
In both CREST and PRESTO, "Invitation for Application of Research Proposals(1st Term)" was started. The guidance and Research Supervisor's policy of this research area were posted. Applicantions shall be done by May 11,2010 for PRESTO and May 18,2010 for CREST.

February 10, 2010
A paper on "Regulation of DNA methylation using different tensions of double strands constructed in a defined DNA nano structure" by Professor H. Sugiyama (Sugiyama team, Kyoto University) was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society. (2010, 132 (5), pp 1592−1597). In this study, two-dimensional DNA scaffold that accommodated two different lengths of double-strand DNA fragments (tense and relaxed states) was designed and the structural effect on the methyl transfer reaction of M. EcoRI was examined. AFM analysis revealed that the longer double-strand DNA was not effectively cleaved compared with the shorter double-strand DNA, indicating that the methylation preferentially occurred in the longer relaxed double-strand DNA.

January 5, 2010
An article on “Carbon nanotubes: Redox potentials" reported by Professor N. Nakashima (Nakashima team, Kyushu University) was issued on the online publication of NPG asia materials (05 January 2010). Nikkei Sangyo newspaper also ran an article on Jan 26 about this new measuring technology that identified the energy levels and gaps of individual single wall carbon nanotubes with different chirality

November 25, 2009
The FY2009 research themes and their principal investigators were posted.

October 15, 2009
The website of this research area was established.

September 23, 2009
A paper on “Self-assembling nanoprobes that display off/on 19F nuclear magnetic resonance signals for protein detection and imaging” by Professor I. Hamachi (Hamachi team, Kyoto University) was issued on the online publication of Nature Chemistry (23 September 2009) as well as a joint press release of Kyoto University and JST.

September 17, 2009
6 new research projects for FY2009 in this research area were selected, and published on a JST press release.

September 4, 2009
The FY2008 annual research reports from the principal investigators in this area were published.

March 30, 2009
A paper on “Ligand-directed tosyl chemistry for protein labeling in vivo” by Professor I. Hamachi (Hamachi team, Kyoto University) was issued on the online publication of Nature Chemical Biology (29 March 2009) as well as a joint press release of Kyoto University and JST.

August 27, 2008
5 new research projects for FY2008 in this research area were selected, and published on a JST press release.

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