Introduction

To understand life as a system, it is essential to use not only the top-down approach of understanding by observing or manipulating cells, but also the bottom-up approach of constructing cells and partial life systems from materials. By using artificial cells and reconstituted life systems, which are bottom-up materials, we are challenging the elucidation of the blueprint of life and the emergence of material substances that transcend life.

■Technological development for in vitro reconstitution of living cell by biomaterials
・Research objective: Reconstitution of a cell-free protein synthesis system fueled by glycolysis using purified enzymes
- Title: Cell-Free Protein Expression by a Reconstituted Transcription–Translation System Energized by Sugar Catabolism, Sato Gaku, Miyazawa Shintaro, Doi Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kei （Molecules） 29 （ 13 ） 2956 Jun. 2024
- Title: Metabolic Tug-of-War between Glycolysis and Translation Revealed by Biochemical Reconstitution, Sato Gaku, Kinoshita Saki, Yamada Takahiro G., Arai Satoshi, Kitaguchi Tetsuya, Funahashi Akira, Doi Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kei （ACS Synthetic Biology） 13 （ 5 ） 1572-1581 May 2024
・Research objective: Improvement of cell-free protein synthesis activity using highly concentrated cell extracts
- Title: A Relationship between NTP and Cell Extract Concentration for Cell-Free Protein Expression, Takahashi Katsuki, Sato Gaku, Doi Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kei （Life） 11 （ 3 ） 237 Mar. 2021
・Research objective: Development of genome transcription and translation technology in test tubes and artificial cells
- Title: Transcription-translation of Escherichia coli genome within artificial cells, Deyama Tatsuki, Matsui Yukino, Chadani Yuhei, Sekine Yasuhiko, Doi Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kei. （Chemical Communications） 57 10367-10370 Aug. 2021
- Title: In vitro transcription-translation using bacterial genome as a template to reconstitute intracellular profile, Fujiwara Kei, Sawamura Tsunehito, Niwa Tatsuya, Deyama Tatsuki,Nomura Shin-ichiro, Taguchi Hideki, Doi Nobuhide, （Nucleic Acids Research） 45（19）11449-11458 Aug. 2017

■Understanding biochemical reactions in cell-sized spaces
・Research objective: Elucidating the role of multi-molecular competition in cell-size space
- Title: Multimolecular Competition Effect as a Modulator of Protein Localization and Biochemical Networks in Cell‐Size Space, Nishikawa Saki, Sato Gaku, Takada Sakura, Kohyama Shunshi, Honda Gen, Yanagisawa Miho, Hori Yutaka, Doi Nobuhide, Yoshinaga Natsuhiko, Fujiwara Kei （Advanced Science） 11 （ 6 ） Feb. 2024
・Research objective: Control of intracellular reaction-diffusion waves
- Title: Controlling the Periodicity of a Reaction–Diffusion Wave in Artificial Cells by a Two-Way Energy Supplier, Takada Sakura, Yoshinaga Natsuhiko, Doi Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kei （ACS Nano） 16 （ 10 ） 16853-16861 Oct. 2022
・Research objective: Elucidation of the characteristics and the underlying mechanism of intracellular reaction-diffusion waves
- Title: Mode selection mechanism in traveling and standing waves revealed by Min wave reconstituted in artificial cells, Takada Sakura, Yoshinaga Natsuhiko, Doi Nobuhide, Fujiwara Kei （Science Advances） 8 （ 23 ） Jun. 2022
- Title: Cell-sized confinement controls generation and stability of a protein wave for spatiotemporal regulation in cells, Kohyama Shunshi, Yoshinaga Natsuhiko, Miho Yanagisawa, Fujiwara Kei, Doi Nobuhide,
（eLife） 8 e44591 Jul. 2019

■Application studies using artificial cell technology
・Research objective: Development of highly functional artificial cells
- Title: Switching ON of Transcription‐Translation System Using GUV Fusion by Co‐supplementation of Calcium with Long‐Chain Polyethylene Glycol, Uwaguchi Yusuke, Fujiwara Kei, Doi Nobuhide （ChemBioChem） 22 （ 13 ） 2319-2324 Jul 2021
- Title: System concentration shift as a regulator of transcription-translation system within liposomes, Akui Toshiki, Fujiwara Kei, Sato Gaku, Takinoue Masahiro, Nomura M. Shin-Ichiro, Doi Nobuhide (iScience) 24（8） 102859-102859 Aug. 2021
- Title: Regulation of spatiotemporal patterning in artificial cells by a defined protein expression system, Yoshida Aoi, Kohyama Shunshi, Fujiwara Kei, Nishikawa Saki, Doi Nobuhide （Chemical science） 10（48） 11064-11072 Dec. 2019
・Research objective: Fermentation by artificial cells
- Title: Artificial cell fermentation as a platform for highly efficient cascade conversion
Fujiwara Kei, Adachi Takuma, Doi Nobuhide （ACS Synthetic Biology） 7（2）363-370 Dec. 2017

Areas of Research

・Molecular Biology
・Synthetic Biology
・Biophysics

Social Contributions

・Advancement of Biology and Medical Applications: Elucidating the blueprint of living cells will enable the design of novel materials distinct from natural cells and the development of methods to control biological processes that will be useful for medical applications.
・Advancement of Basic Science and Materials Science: Understanding molecular reactions occurring within cell-sized spaces pave the railway for the applications in nanomedicine and the design of highly efficient biomaterials.
・Contribution to Engineering: The establishment of material production technologies such as fermentation by artificial cells will contribute to the achievement of a sustainable society.