Taro Toyota
University of Tokyo, Japan
Guest Speaker
Taro Toyota is Associate Professor at the Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, and one of the members of Universal Biology Institute there. He was Researcher of Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO) of Japan Science and Technology Agency from 2009 to 2015. His current research interests include micrometer-scale molecular assembly in a non-equilibrium state.
Keynote presentation: Growth and Division of Giant Vesicles Upon Chemical Feeding
Session "Replication" Wednesday, 2 Dec, 16:00 - 16:30 CET
Abstract: The sustainability of cellular living systems is derived by repetition of growth and division of cellular membrane to deliver informational substances into descendants. This repetition is not caused by only physical stimuli but involves metabolic reactions which converse nutrient molecules to cellular membrane components. Our group tries to clarify the physico-chemically minimal condition for realizing a steady cycle of growth and division of cellular membrane the diameter of which is more than 1 micrometer. I will describe two recent progresses on this purpose: construction of a molecular system of phospholipid production linking the growth and division of giant vesicles (closed bilayer membrane larger than 1 micrometer) of synthesized phospholipids, and development of a microfluidic device for observing giant vesicles which are trapped in a microcompartment under controlled external flow.