Takuya Matsumoto Takuya Matsumoto

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University *Profile is at the time of the award.

2026HagukumuBiology & Life sciences(hagukumu)

researchmap

Research topics: Proteoliposome-based artificial cell system for glucose-driven energy conversion

Keyword

Summary: This study presents the construction of an artificial cell capable of harvesting energy directly from glucose. A liposome functionalized with both a glucose-oxidizing enzyme and membrane-associated electron transfer proteins enables a direct electron transfer pathway from glucose into the liposome interior. This concept establishes a synthetic energy conversion mechanism distinct from the metabolic cascades employed by living cells, offering a promising approach toward the production of valuable compounds and biomedical applications.

Message

This research aims to realize a synthetic energy conversion mechanism in an artificial cell, in which electrons extracted directly from glucose are transferred into the liposome interior. Beyond its academic significance in addressing fundamental questions of life and energy, this concept may contribute to the development of artificial cell systems capable of operating in extreme or extraterrestrial environments. This support will further accelerate our efforts in this direction.