A5035719946- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Mechanical and Optical Resonators
- Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Polymer Surface Interaction Studies
- Origins and Evolution of Life
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- thermodynamics and calorimetric analyses
- Integrated Circuits and Semiconductor Failure Analysis
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Enzyme Catalysis and Immobilization
- Advanced Materials Characterization Techniques
- Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
- Electrochemical Analysis and Applications
- Near-Field Optical Microscopy
- Nanotechnology research and applications
- Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Blood properties and coagulation
- Carbon Nanotubes in Composites
- Tendon Structure and Treatment
Life Science Institute
2016-2025
Institute of Science Tokyo
2025
Tokyo Institute of Technology
2013-2023
Infrafrontier
2008
Significance The prebiotic milieu was likely heterogeneous, consisting of a large number chemicals and their associated reactions, including those not only biological compounds, but also nonbiological compounds. Although origins life research has focused primarily on molecules, the molecules which were present may have assisted evolving chemical systems in unforeseen ways. Thus, we synthesized assembled membraneless polyester microdroplets from drying pools simple α-hydroxy acid monomers...
Polyester microdroplets have been investigated as primitive protocell models that can exhibit relevant functions such biomolecule segregation, coalescence, and salt uptake. Such assemble after dehydration synthesis of alpha-hydroxy acid (αHA) monomers, commonly available on early Earth, via heating at mild temperatures, followed by rehydration in aqueous media. αHAs, particular, are also ubiquitous biology, participating a variety biochemical processes metabolism, suggesting the possible...
α-hydroxy acids (αHAs), simple and prebiotically plausible organic monomers, were likely present in various environments on off Earth could have played a role directing the emergence of first homochiral living systems. Some αHAs, which been varying chirality, can undergo dehydration polymerization into polyesters, assemble membraneless microdroplets upon rehydration; understanding these processes is critical for unraveling how prebiotic molecules transitioned more complex systems capable...
Abstract To develop a simple method for probing the physical state of surface adsorbed proteins, we adopted force curve mode an atomic microscope (AFM) to extract information on mechanical properties immobilized bovine carbonic anhydrase II under native conditions and in course guanidinium chloride–induced denaturation. A progressive increase population individually softened molecules was probed mildly fully denaturing conditions. The use approach regime curves gave regarding height rigidity...
Abstract The atomic force microscope (AFM) is a versatile tool for imaging, measurement and manipulation of proteins, DNA, living cells basically at the single molecular level. In cellular level manipulation, extraction, identification mRNA's from defined loci cell, insertion plasmid DNA pulling membrane example, have been reported. this study, AFM was used to create holes on cell investigation viability after hole creation, visualization intracellular structure through targeted gene...
α-Hydroxy acids are prebiotic monomers that undergo dehydration synthesis to form polyester gels, which assemble into membraneless microdroplets upon aqueous rehydration. These proposed as protocells can segregate and compartmentalize primitive molecules/reactions. Different environments with a variety of salts could have hosted chemistries formed microdroplets. be essential cofactors compartmentalized reactions or even directly affect protocell structure. However, fully understanding...
This paper reviews a recent progress of molecular level studies on the rigidity surface immobilized as well membrane bound proteins embedded in lipid bilayer. Some details and emphasis are given to work done our laboratory last few years. Immobilization protein molecules solid through covalent crosslinkers one side probe atomic force microscope other enabled us pull or push single molecule specified directions. On pulling, internal structure is mechanically opened up and, pushing, it...
Summary Cells recognize and respond to changes in intra- extracellular mechanical conditions maintain their homeostasis. Linear contractile bundles of actin filaments myosin II known as stress fibres (SFs) mediate signals. Mechanical cues such excessive driven by and/or external force may damage SFs induce the local transient accumulation SF-repair complexes (zyxin VASP) at damaged sites. Using an atomic microscope mounted on a fluorescence microscope, we applied cells expressing...
Abstract Synthesis of polyester gels via dehydration α ‐hydroxy acids (αHAs) is a plausible route to form primitive functional polymers. HApolyester assemble into membraneless droplets upon rehydration in aqueous media that can segregate and compartmentalize early biomolecules. However, conditions for synthesis microdroplet assembly have yet be broadly explored. Thus, the effects heat monomer chirality on homopolyester microdroplets are investigated using microscopy mass spectrometry. Lower...
We developed a method to detect and identify proteins on probe of the atomic force microscope (AFM) with high sensitivity. Due low background noise total internal reflection fluorescence employed as detecting system, we were able achieve enough sensitivity zeptomole orders protein molecules immobilized tip. Several different methods immobilize AFM‐probes tested, meant for wide range applications this method. Furthermore, demonstrated that clearly distinguished by immunofluorescence...
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a highly successful technique for imaging nanometre-sized samples and measuring pico- to nano-newton forces acting between atoms molecules. When it comes the manipulation of larger with tens hundreds nano-newtons, however, present chemistry-based modification protocols functionalizing AFM cantilevers achieve formation covalent/non-covalent linkages probe sample surface do not produce strong enough bonds. For purpose fracture strength other mechanical...