Measurement of Epigenetic Information of Identical Living Cells Having the Same Genetic Information by On-chip Microculture System

摘要

We have developed a series of methods and systems exploitting microfablication techniques for analyzing epigenetic information in cells in order to expand our understanding of how living systems are determined by epigenetic information as well as genetic information. Because cells are the minimum units reflecting epigenetic information, which is considered the history of a parallel-processing recurrent network of biochemical reactions, their behavior cannot be explained by considering only the conventional DNA information-processing events. The role of the epigenetic information of cells, which is complementary to their genetic information, was inferred by comparing the predictions of genetic information with the cell behaviour observed under conditions chosen to reveal adaptation processes and community effects. Analysis of epigenetic information was developed starting from the twin complementary viewpoints of cells regulation as an 'algebraic' system (emphasis on the temporal aspect) and as a 'geometric' system (emphasis on the spatial aspect). The knowledge acquired from this study will lead to the use of cells for fully controlled practical applications like cell-based drug screening and the regeneration of organs.