Research Activities

Research Activities

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Principal Investigators

Dept. of Life Science Frontiers 
Hirohide Saito (Professor)

Hirohide Saito Photo
Hirohide Saito Ph.D.
Research Overview

Creation of RNA-based synthetic life systems
RNA-Protein (RNP) complex plays a central role in gene expression by controlling processes such as translation, transcription, and RNA processing.

With this background, we came up with the idea that the understanding of the necessary factors to form the RNP such as RNA sequences and structures would enable us to artificially create RNP complexes to control molecular mechanisms and cell fates.

With this idea of synthetic biology, we are working on the elucidation of the programming mechanism of cells and precise cell fate control through the development of new technologies to understand, control and create RNP-based life systems.

By utilizing cell type-specific RNA and protein markers, we are working on the following themes in order to develop technologies that control molecular mechanisms specific to target cells and apply them to medical research.

1. Construction of artificial RNA systems which detect intracellular information and regulate cell-fate.

2. Development of RNA switch technologies that safely and precisely identify and recognize the target cells.

3. Construction of RNP nanostructures functioning in cells and realizing RNP spatiotemporal control.

In addition, we are engaging in the following themes in order to elucidate and control the molecular systems in the cell controlled by RNA and RNP.

4. Understanding of the molecular mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation in cell programming.

5. Development of new technologies for the comprehensive analysis of RNA-protein interaction.

In our group, each graduate student will work on original research themes and acquire skills and knowledge of synthetic biology, molecular biology, and cell engineering.

RNP Synthetic Biology / RNP Nanotechnology
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