Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas “Molecular Robotics”
To all concerned,

We are pleased to announce the January 2016 regular meeting of the Molecular Robotics Research Group as follows.
If you wish to join the social gathering after the meeting, please email us by January 15 to indicate your intention to participate.

“Molecular Robotics Research Group” January 2016 Regular Meeting (Kyoto)
Supported by: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas “Creation of Molecular Robots with Sensing and Intelligence (Molecular Robotics)”
“Frontiers of Single-Molecule Measurement/Observation and Their Integration with Molecular Robotics”
Date: Saturday, January 23, 2016
Venue: Kyoto University Yoshida Campus, Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Complex 1 Main Building, Seminar Room (Yoshida-Ushinomiyacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto)
Access: 1-minute walk from the Kyoto City Bus stop “Kyodai Seimon-mae” (next to the Kansai–France Center)
Organizer: Masayuki Endo (Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University) endo[at]kuchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Participation fee: Free

<<Program>>

1:00–1:40 “RNA Origami: A new way to design nanostructures”
Dr. Cody Geary (California Institute of Technology)
Artificial DNA and RNA structures have been used as scaffolds for a variety of nanoscale devices. In comparison to DNA structures, RNA structures have been limited in size, but they also have advantages: RNA can fold during transcription and thus can be genetically encoded and expressed in cells. We introduce an architecture for designing artificial RNA structures that fold from a single strand, in which arrays of antiparallel RNA helices are precisely organized by RNA tertiary motifs and a new type of crossover pattern. We constructed RNA tiles that assemble into hexagonal lattices and demonstrated that lattices can be formed by annealing and/or cotranscriptional folding. Tiles can be scaled up to 660 nucleotides in length, reaching a size comparable to that of large natural ribozymes.

1:40–2:20 “Seeing, Manipulating, Breaking, and Creating Biomolecular Machines”
Prof. Ryota Iino (Institute for Molecular Science)
Machines made of biomolecules are not as capable as robots, but multiple parts that constitute these machines cooperate with one another and work surprisingly skillfully. In this talk, I will discuss how molecular motors—representative molecular machines—move directionally, investigated through four approaches: “see,” “manipulate,” “break,” and “create.” Recently my personal focus has been on “breaking” and “creating.” Since we are not yet very successful at “creating,” I will share our trial-and-error efforts and ambitions.

2:20–2:50 “Construction of a DNA Computing System Using Nanopores”
Prof. Ryuji Kawano (Division of Life Science and Biofunctional Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)
By using membrane proteins with nanopores reconstituted in planar lipid bilayers, it is possible to electrically observe a single DNA molecule passing through the pore. In this study, we will perform DNA computation output using nanopores to build a fast, electrical DNA computing mechanism.

Coffee break

3:10–4:50 “Single-Molecule Analysis Using Current Measurements and Nanostructures”
Prof. Masateru Taniguchi (Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University)
By combining current measurements with nanostructures and measuring tunneling currents, it has become possible to evaluate the number of molecules connected to electrodes, molecular vibrations and temperature of a single molecule, and the binding force between electrodes and molecules. Applying such single-molecule analysis techniques enables reading DNA/RNA base sequences and peptide amino-acid sequences, and also distinguishing modified nucleobases and modified amino acids at the single-molecule level. On the other hand, by combining ionic current measurements with fluid simulations, it has become possible to estimate the structure of a single particle.

3:50–4:20 “Single-Particle Luminescence Observation of Organometal Halide Perovskites”
Prof. Takashi Tachikawa (Graduate School of Science, Kobe University)
Organometal halide perovskites are photofunctional materials that have attracted much attention in recent years for applications such as solar cells and light-emitting devices. Meanwhile, because their structures are heterogeneous on the nanoscale, it is not easy to clarify key elementary processes using only conventional spectroscopy on bulk samples. In this talk, I will introduce recent experimental results on carrier dynamics and surface reactions in these perovskites obtained from luminescence observations at the single-particle level.

Coffee break

4:40–5:10 “Optical Control of Cell-Membrane Functions Using Photoresponsive Nanomaterials”
Prof. Tatsuya Murakami (WPI-iCeMS, Kyoto University)
Optical control of cellular functions using exogenous photoresponsive proteins has rapidly developed as a new methodology in cell engineering. In this study, leveraging the concept of drug delivery systems, we introduce a method to deliver photothermal-conversion nanomaterials to local cellular regions and safely control cellular functions with light.

5:10–5:40 “New Methods to Visualize and Control the Activity of Glutamate Receptors in Neurons”
Prof. Shigeki Kiyonaka (Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University)
In neurons, glutamate receptors mediate excitatory neurotransmission. Because changes in their dynamics and activity are closely correlated with neuronal activity, methods to visualize and control their activity are powerful tools for elucidating neural functions. We have developed a method to visualize endogenous glutamate receptors in neurons without perturbing genes. In addition, by adopting a chemical-biology approach, we have developed a new activity-control method that overcomes issues of conventional methods.

Social gathering: 6:00–8:00 (planned at a nearby izakaya/pub)