[yuCell] Year Started : 2023

Hideaki Kato

Development of magnetogenetics technologies

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B1
Research Director
Hideaki Kato

Professor
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo

Collaborator
Teruhiro Okuyama Associate Professor
Institute for Quantitative Biosciences
The University of Tokyo
Susumu Yoshizawa Associate Professor
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
The University of Tokyo
Outline

We aim to pioneer a novel cell manipulation technique termed magnetogenetics. Our primary focus will be on analyzing the molecular mechanisms of magnetic receptors found in nature. Based on our findings, we will create magnetogenetics tools to control various cell activities. To evaluate the effectiveness of these tools, we will conduct experiments on both cultured cells and living animals.

Kotaro Kimura

Session with the worm’s brain through ultra-fast optical call & response

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B2
Research Director
Kotaro Kimura

Professor
Graduate School of Science
Nagoya City University

Collaborator
Hiromasa Oku Professor
Faculty of Informatics
Gunma University
Yuki Tsukada Senior Assistant Professor
Department of Biosciences and Informatics
Keio University
Outline

The essence of brain function is the coordination of distributed and autonomous activities in various multiple regions, but our understanding of this remains limited. In this project, we regard the distributed and autonomous activities of the brain as a jazz session in which multiple autonomous performers cooperate to compose music, and aim to establish techniques where researchers engage with brain activity through a ‘call & response’ strategy, steering brain functions in desired directions, starting with studies on nematode C. elegans, which have simple brains.

Hirohide Saito

Construction of Functional RNA/RNP Evolution Platform and Development of Cell Regulation Technology

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B3
Research Director
Hirohide Saito


Professor, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (IQB), The University of Tokyo
/Professor, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University

Collaborator
Shungo Adachi Chief
Research Institute
National Cancer Center Japan Research Institute
Michiaki Hamada Professor
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Waseda University
Outline

In this study, we utilize AI models, synthetic biology, and large-scale analysis techniques to discover and create RNAs and RNPs with new functions. In particular, we have developed a unique AI model called “RNA & RNP Generator” to search for and generate RNAs & RNPs that express desired functions. These findings will be applied to gene expression regulation and cellular manipulation techniques. Through this research, we aim to build an “RNA & RNP Evolution Platform” that combines experimentation and AI, and we will develop cellular control mechanisms and manipulation techniques based on RNA & RNP.

Moritoshi Sato

Opto-microorganism development for optogenetic intervention and application in vivo

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B4
Research Director
Moritoshi Sato

Professor
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
The University of Tokyo

Collaborator
Makoto Takeda Professor
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo
Masayuki Yazawa Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacological Sciences
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Outline

We will develop opto-microorganisms that can be manipulated by light and demonstrate their potential for applications such as cancer drug discovery and drug discovery for infectious diseases by performing significant functional modification of microorganisms using directed evolution and by introducing novel optical manipulation technologies.

Kumiko Tsukui

Manipulating parasites

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B5
Research Director
Kumiko Tsukui

Visiting Researcher
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo

Collaborator
Shiroh Iwanaga Professor
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases
Osaka University
Hirotaka Kanuka Professor
School of Medicine
Jikei University
Haruhiko Maruyama Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Miyazaki
Outline

We aim to establish manipulation methods for two protozoa and three helminths, and confer useful functions along with taking advantage of their characteristics. Parasites have coevolved with their hosts and acquired ingenious strategies, which allow for completing a unique parasitic life cycle. Their diverse survival strategies are attractive from perspectives of basic and applied science, but there are still technical issues to be clarified. In this research project, to break through these issues, we attempt to develop genome editing technology in parasite species, for which manipulation techniques are still underdeveloped, which enable us to utilize the parasite’s survival strategies. We expect that our developed technologies will open new avenues in parasite biology, which will be useful for future science.

Hiroshi Nishimasu

Genome eingineering using novel DNA recombinases

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B6
Research Director
Hiroshi Nishimasu

Professor
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo

Collaborator
Sadao Ota Associate Professor
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo
Kotaro Tsuboyama lecturer
Institute of Industrial Science
The University of Tokyo
Hirofumi Nishizono Lecturer
Medical Research Institute
Kanazawa Medical University
Outline

In this study, we will perform genome mining, functional analysis, and cryo-EM structural analysis of various DNA recombinases to elucidate their DNA recombination mechanisms. In addition, we will attempt structure-based molecular engineering to create recombinase variants with improved functionality and develop efficient DNA knock-in technologies. Finally, we aim to establish therapeutic methods for genetic diseases caused by large-scale genome deletions.

Nozomu Yachie

DNA Event Recorder Cell

Grant No.:JPMJCR23B7
Research Director
Nozomu Yachie

Specially Appointed Professor
Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine
Osaka University

Collaborator
Daichi Inoue Professor
Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences
Osaka University
Ryosuke Kojima Associate Professor
Graduate School of Medicine
The University of Tokyo
A. Etsuo Susaki Professor
Graduate School of Medicine
Juntendo University
Toshiro Moroishi Professor
Faculty of Life Sciences
Kumamoto University
Outline

A significant challenge that modern biology faces is the inability to directly observe the sequence of events that occur within cellular structures. Current methods used to observe the molecular profiles of cells require the destruction of the samples at the time of observation. To tackle this challenge, we aim to establish “DNA event recording” systems, by which high-resolution molecular and cellular information from individual cells within a multicellular organism can be progressively stored on synthetic “DNA tapes.” Such a system permits the historical information of cells to be read out through high-throughput DNA sequencing. Our goal is to obtain a high-content map of the developmental cell lineage and cell differentiation trajectories throughout the entire process of mouse development.

Quick Access

Program

  • CREST
  • PRESTO
  • ERATO
  • ACT-X
  • ALCA
  • CRONOS
  • AIP Network Lab
  • Global Activities
  • Diversity
  • SDGs
  • OSpolicy
  • Yuugu
  • Questions