The April regular meeting of the Molecular Robotics Research Group will be held as follows.
Date & Time: Saturday, April 27, 2013, 13:00–17:30
Venue: Venture Business Hall 3F, Higashiyama Campus, Nagoya University
Access: Get off at “Nagoya University” Station on the Subway Meijo Line; 5 minutes on foot
URL: http://www.vbl.nagoya-u.ac.jp/access.html
Program (tentative)
13:00–14:00
Prof. Eiji Yashima (Professor, Department of Molecular Design and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University)
“On the Potential for Creating Molecular Machines Based on Helical Structures”
In living systems, precisely structured molecular assemblies use chemical reactions and light energy as driving forces to perform motions such as rotation, extension/contraction, and translation in a spatiotemporally specific manner, thereby expressing advanced functions essential for life. Inspired by this, the synthesis of artificial molecular machines endowed with directional motion has been actively pursued worldwide, mainly in supramolecular chemistry. Because of their shape, helical structures have long been expected to function as molecular springs. In this lecture, focusing on helical structures, the speaker will outline his past research on helices and discuss the recent synthesis of a molecular spring that extends and contracts in a unidirectional helical manner in response to stimuli, as well as some functions enabled by it.
14:00–15:00
Dr. Kanta Minamoto (Lecturer, Department of Molecular Materials Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University)
“Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Artificial Lipid Membrane Vesicles Using Recombinant Baculovirus”
When attempting to reconstruct the functions of the cell membrane—responsible for interactions inside and outside the cell—on an artificial lipid membrane, it would be useful to have a method that allows relevant membrane protein components to be incorporated freely. We propose a method based on fusion between recombinant baculovirus and liposome membranes, which differs from conventional proteoliposome preparation methods. It is known that when membrane proteins are expressed in this widely used protein production system, the target proteins are incorporated into enveloped virus particles (BV) that bud from the membranes of infected insect cells. Recombinant BV, through the activity of its own fusion-inducing protein, undergoes membrane fusion with liposome membranes containing acidic phospholipids under mildly acidic conditions. Using this phenomenon, we aim to reconstruct complex systems by fusing BV carrying each component of a signal transduction pathway onto artificial membranes (giant liposomes). In this talk, we will describe the practical aspects of the method, including remaining challenges.
15:00–15:10 Break (10 min)
15:10–16:10
Prof. Masaki Sano (Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo)
“What Is Active Matter? From Self-Propelled Colloids to Cell Motility”
In the past, we proposed model equations for moving populations and explored universal properties and physical considerations found in groups of self-driven units. In recent years, experiments and theory have become possible for a broad range of self-propelled systems, including colloids and cell motility, and a research field known collectively as “active matter” is now emerging worldwide. After discussing the directions pursued by the physics of active matter, this lecture will introduce our recent studies that probe the mechanisms of cell motility through mechanical measurements of self-propelled colloid systems and cell movement.
16:10–16:30 Break (20 min)
Contributed Talks (Topics)
16:30–17:00
Dr. Masahito Hayashi (Researcher, Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University)
“Functional Control of Protein Molecules Using Nucleic Acid–Protein Hybrid Technology”
We separated kinesin, a naturally occurring two-legged protein that walks along microtubules, into individual “legs,” and attached DNA strands with complementary sequences to each leg to reconstruct a two-legged kinesin. This DNA–kinesin hybrid molecule can indeed walk on microtubules, and by changing the length of the DNA and the attachment positions, we can tune the walking speed and travel distance. We will introduce the construction method of the hybrid molecule and consider its potential applications.
17:00–17:30
Prof. Hiroyuki Asanuma (Professor, Department of Molecular Design and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University)
“Why Did God Choose Ribose for the DNA Backbone?”
Our understanding of the role of the main-chain backbone in the origin of DNA supramolecularity is limited. Our group found that artificial nucleic acids with an entropically unfavorable acyclic backbone (aTNA, SNA) form far more stable duplexes, revealing that ribose does not contribute to duplex stabilization (and may even destabilize it). We are also clarifying that if the goal is simply to associate two strands, not only ribose but also hydrogen bonding between nucleobases is not necessarily required. Here, by comparing the duplex stability of various (artificial) nucleic acids, we would like to consider why nature chose ribose for the DNA backbone.
18:00–20:00 Social gathering at a restaurant near Nagoya University