About Dr. Hirohide Saito
Dr. Saito is professor at Kyoto University. He obtained his Masters of Science in the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology Graduate School of Engineering from The University of Tokyo in 1999. He then went to complete his PhD in the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology Graduate School of Engineering at The University of Tokyo.
Research Overview
Creation of RNA-based synthetic life systems
RNA-Protein (RNP) complex plays a central role in gene expression by controlling processes such as translation, transcription, and RNA processing.
With this background, they came up with the idea that the understanding of the necessary factors to form the RNP such as RNA sequences and structures would enable them to artificially create RNP complexes to control molecular mechanisms and cell fates.
With this idea of synthetic biology, they are working on the elucidation of the programming mechanism of cells and precise cell fate control through the development of new technologies to understand, control and create RNP-based life systems.
By utilizing cell type-specific RNA and protein markers, they are working on the following themes in order to develop technologies that control molecular mechanisms specific to target cells and apply them to medical research.
1. Construction of artificial RNA systems which detect intracellular information and regulate cell-fate.
2. Development of RNA switch technologies that safely and precisely identify and recognize the target cells.
3. Construction of RNP nanostructures functioning in cells and realizing RNP spatiotemporal control.
In addition, they are engaging in the following themes in order to elucidate and control the molecular systems in the cell controlled by RNA and RNP.
4. Understanding of the molecular mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation in cell programming.
5. Development of new technologies for the comprehensive analysis of RNA-protein interaction.
In his group, each graduate student will work on original research themes and acquire skills and knowledge of synthetic biology, molecular biology, and cell engineering