[2S01m] 10. ASPIRE - Part 4

10:00 AM - 10:19 AM JST(1:00 AM - 1:19 AM UTC)

[2ASPR-02] Artificial cell engineering using DNA/RNA condensates in ASPIRE Japan-UK SYNERGY project

○Masahiro Takinoue¹ (1. Institute of Science Tokyo (Japan))

Keywords:

Artificial cells,Synthetic biology,Nanobiotechnology

Synthetic liquid-like condensates that mimic bio-soft matter condensates formed via liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in living cells have recently attracted much attention in biophysics and nanobiotechnology. The thermodynamic properties of biomolecular condensates, such as the dependence of stability on weak intermolecular interactions and binding multivalency, have been well-studied; however, controlling the dynamic properties of biomolecular condensates remains a challenging topic in this field. Liquid-like biomolecular condensates are promising candidates for constructing protocells, artificial cells, and artificial organelles; their dynamic properties and control principles should be further explored. Our group has studied the dynamic control of DNA/RNA-based liquid-like condensates. DNA/RNA-based liquid-like condensates are programmable; their stability, viscoelasticity, and formation efficiency can be tuned by designing DNA/RNA sequences and structures. We have demonstrated molecular computers based on DNA/RNA condensates that can sense microRNA (miRNA) sequences and perform logic computations. The computational DNA/RNA condensates show division or dispersion when they compute the logic pattern of miRNA inputs after sensing. Recently, we showed that RNA-based condensates can be formed in a living cell (Escherichia coli) through RNA transcription. We believe that spatiotemporal control of DNA/RNA-based condensates in vitro and in vivo will promote the design and construction of smart artificial cells, smart artificial organelles, and molecular robots. This research was conducted through the international collaboration and early-career researcher exchange based on Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) funded by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the United Kingdom. The pproject name is 'Engineering sustained function in SYNthetic cells through enERGY generation, storage and transformation' (Japan-UK SYNERGY). In this presentation, I will present scientific achievements in artificial cell engineering based on DNA/RNA condensates and the international collaboration situation to expand the concept.