Synthetic Molecular Biology Team

We plan to add unnatural base-pairs to the natural repertoire of four bases in DNA, in order to enhance the applicability of nucleic acids, and also apply the cutting-edge technology based on the novel base pairs in a wider spectrum of industry.

Research Fields

Engineering / Chemistry / Biology & Biochemistry / Molecular Biology & Genetics / Pharmacology & Toxicology / Space Science

Research Subjects

• Expansion of the genetic alphabet by unnatural base pairs
• Creation of novel nucleic acid diagnostics and therapeutics
• Stabilization of functional nucleic acid molecules

Publications

1. Hirao, I. and Kimoto, M.:
   "Unnatural base pair systems toward the expansion of the genetic alphabet in the central dogma."
   Proc. Jpn. Acad. Ser. B Phys. Biol. Sci., 88, 345-367 (2012).
2. Hirao, I., Kimoto, M., and Yamashige, R.:
   "Natural vs artificial creation of base pairs in DNA: origin of nucleobases from the perspectives of unnatural base pair studies."
   Acc. Chem. Res.,45, 2055-2065 (2012).
3. Yamashige, R., Kimoto, M., Takezawa, Y., Sato, A., Mitsui, T., Yokoyama, S., and Hirao, I.:
   "Highly specific unnatural base pair systems as a third base pair for PCR amplification."
   Nucleic Acids Res., 40, 2793-2806 (2012).
4. Kimoto, M., Cox 3rd, R. S., and Hirao, I.:
   "Unnatural base pair systems for sensing and diagnostic applications."
   Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn., 11, 321-331 (2011).
5. Hikida, Y., Kimoto, M., Yokoyama, S., and Hirao, I.:
   "Site-specific fluorescent probing of RNA molecules by unnatural base-pair transcription for local structural conformation analysis."
   Nature Protocols, 5, 1312-1323 (2010).
6. Kimoto, M. and Hirao, I.:
   "Site-specific incorporation of extra components into RNA by transcription using unnatural base pair systems."
   Methods, Mol. Biol., 634, 355-369 (2010).
7. Kimoto, M., Kawai, R., Mitsui, T., Yokoyama, S., and Hirao, I.:
   "An unnatural base pair system for efficient PCR amplification and functionalization of DNA molecules."
   Nucleic Acids Res., 37, e14 (2009).
8. Hirao, I.:
   "Unnatural base pair systems for DNA/RNA-based biotechnology."
   Curr. Op. Chem. Biol., 10, 622-627 (2006).
9. Hirao, I., Kimoto, M., Mitsui, T., Fujiwara, T., Kawai, R., Sato, A., Harada, Y., and Yokoyama, S.:
   "An unnatural hydrophobic base pair system: site-specific incorporation of nucleotide analogs into DNA and RNA."
   Nature Methods, 3, 729-735 (2006).
10. Hirao, I., Ohtsuki, T., Fujiwara, T., Mitsui, T., Yokogawa, T., Okuni, T., Nakayama, H., Takio, K., Yabuki, T., Kigawa, T., Kodama, K., Yokogawa, T., Nishikawa, K., and Yokoyama, S.:
    "An unnatural base pair for incorporating amino acid analogs into proteins."
    Nature Biotechnology, 20, 177-182 (2002).