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"M" Researcher: 23
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Modification of Protein Translation Efficiency by Introducing Untranslated Region Sequences
Three-digit increase or decrease in the expression efficiency of recombinant proteins by mimicking viruses
By increasing the efficiency of protein expression per cell to 100 times the current level, we aim to dramatically increase the efficiency of recombinant protein production using CHO cells, etc., realizing a paradigm shift in genetic engineering technology.
Research
Human adenoviruses, which have long been used for gene transfer, are a typical example of a viral vector system with a proven safety profile. Although wild-type adenoviruses have a remarkable ability to shut down host protein expression during infection and express their own late-phase proteins preferentially and explosively, they have not received much attention. Since adenoviruses themselves are pathogenic; however, the use of their viral particles in recombinant protein purification systems is problematic in terms of safety. Therefore, we aim to optimize the leader sequence in the viral gene and incorporate it as an untranslated region sequence upstream of the recombinant protein, so that we can mimic the viral translation system and increase the translation efficiency from existing expression vectors by more than 100-fold. Conversely, it is also possible to modify the untranslated region downstream of the termination codon to reduce the expression level by a factor of several dozens.
Motoaki Yasuda Specially Appointed Associate Professor -
Development of Microstructure Prediction Simulation Technology for Metallic Materials
From solidification to solid phase transformation
In the manufacturing process of structural and functional materials, various material structures are formed during solidification, heat treatment, and plastic processing, and the characteristics of these structures determine the properties of the materials. We are developing a simulation method to predict the series of material microstructure changes from solidification to solid phase transformation.
Research
We are developing and applying methods for predicting temporal changes in the microstructure of metallic materials during the series of phase transformations that occur in the manufacturing process, such as solidification, grain growth, and diffusional solid transformation. We are specifically engaged in the development of a phase-field model, a method to simulate microstructure formation, and have succeeded in developing a model that calculates the diffusional phase transformation with the highest accuracy in the world. We are also working on microstructure control in various alloy systems by combining experimental approaches, atomistic approaches using molecular dynamics, and information science approaches such as data assimilation and machine learning. We are developing new theories of microstructure formation by using ultra-large scale calculations and obtaining results that lead to optimization of the actual processes.
Munekazu Ohno Professor -
Non-invasive Identification of Cancer Cells by Phase Contrast Measurement
Non-contact optical measurement for high-precision differentiation between cancer and normal cells in culture
The laser beam irradiated at and transmitted through cultured cells attached to the incubator’s bottom generates phase differences depending on the cell’s refractive index and thickness. In this study, we have shown that it is possible to highly accurately differentiate between normal cells and those that have become cancerous in culture by quantifying the phase difference at each point in the cell.
Research
Hoping to contribute to the quality control of cultured cells for transplantation in regenerative medicine, we have sought to establish a non-invasive and highly accurate method to determine the presence of cancerous cells in culture. The special mouse transplantation method, which has conventionally been used to determine the presence or absence of cancerous cells in a cell population, is destructive (invasive) and requires a long time (several weeks or more) to make a judgment. In contrast, this technology can identify cells in culture as quickly as within 10 seconds per field of view, or approximately 10 hours for all cells in a 100 mm dish, by calculating phase difference values that can be quantified non-invasively by simply transmitting laser light through the cells in culture. Since there is no other method to non-invasively determine the presence of cancer cells, which are important to identify for quality control, we are aiming to standardize this method.
Mutsumi Takagi Professor
