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Biomolecular Self-Organization
Biomolecular Self-Organization
"How does molecular machinery drive the self-organization of diverse biological phenomena?"
Nature is full of patterns. From the motion of stars to ocean waves, and even the flow of clouds, these patterns not only captivate us with their beauty but also reflect the underlying laws of nature. Classical science has made remarkable progress in explaining such patterns—from fluid dynamics to solid-state physics.
But biological patterns remain one of the greatest frontiers in science. In living systems, patterns aren’t just beautiful—they are functional. From cell migration to division, biological systems often use self-organized wave-like patterns to carry out essential tasks. These dynamic patterns are found everywhere, from single cells to the development of entire embryos.
Our research aims to uncover the physical principles behind these self-organized biological phenomena. By rebuilding such systems in simplified, artificial environments ("reconstitution"), we can study them in a controlled way. To do this, we combine cutting-edge nanotechnology, advanced imaging with light-based manipulation, and theoretical modeling.
Through this interdisciplinary approach, we hope to shed light on how life organizes itself—and ultimately contribute to answering one of the most fundamental questions: What is Life? (as famously posed by Erwin Schrödinger).
Related Publications:
- Sakamoto, R.* & Murrell, M. P.* Nat. Commun. 15, 9731 (2024)
- Sakamoto, R.*, Miyazaki, M. & Maeda, Y. T.* Phys. Rev. Research 5, 013208 (2023)
- Sakamoto, R.*, Izri, Z., Shimamoto, Y., Miyazaki, M. & Maeda, Y. T.* PNAS 119, e2121147119 (2022)
- Sakamoto, R.†, Tanabe, M.†, Hiraiwa, T., Suzuki, K., Ishiwata, S., Maeda, Y. T. & Miyazaki, M.* Nat. Commun. 11, 3063 (2020)
Engineering Life
Engineering Life
"How can we design and construct life-like systems from basic building blocks?"
Since the discovery of DNA, modern molecular biology has identified and classified an enormous number of biomolecules. In a single eukaryotic cell, there are more than ten thousand kinds of molecules interacting in dynamic and complex ways. In other words, we now know a lot about the parts that make up biological systems.
However, we still don’t fully understand how these molecular parts come together to create life. To tackle this challenge, scientists have developed a “bottom-up” or so-called "reconstitution" approach. Instead of studying life by breaking it down, this method attempts to build it up—engineering life-like behavior by combining only the essential components in simplified systems.
By doing so, we can begin to understand not only how life functions, but also how to design new biological systems that go beyond the constraints of natural evolution. Just as airplanes don’t flap their wings like birds, engineered biological systems might perform useful tasks in ways that living organisms never evolved to do.
Our lab works toward this goal by combining nanotechnology, biochemistry, and advanced microscopy to study the principles of biomolecular self-organization. Inspired by physicist Richard Feynman’s famous quote—“What I cannot create, I do not understand”—we aim to construct life-like systems from the ground up. Through this, we hope to deepen our understanding of life and apply that knowledge to biotechnology and the intelligent design of future biological systems.
Related Publications:
- Sakamoto, R. & Murrell, M. P.* Cell Rep. Phys. Sci. 5, 12 (2024)
- Sakamoto, R.* & Murrell, M. P.* Nat. Commun. 15, 9731 (2024)
- Sakamoto, R. & Murrell, M. P.* Nat. Commun. 15, 3444 (2024)
- Sakamoto, R.*, Izri, Z., Shimamoto, Y., Miyazaki, M. & Maeda, Y. T.* PNAS 119, e2121147119 (2022)
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