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Asama R, Liu CJS, Tominaga M, Cheng YR, Nakamura Y, Kondo A, Wang HY, Ishii J. Droplet-based microfluidic platform for detecting agonistic peptides that are self-secreted by yeast expressing a G-protein-coupled receptor. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:104. [PMID: 38594681 PMCID: PMC11005146 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02379-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-cell droplet microfluidics is an important platform for high-throughput analyses and screening because it provides an independent and compartmentalized microenvironment for reaction or cultivation by coencapsulating individual cells with various molecules in monodisperse microdroplets. In combination with microbial biosensors, this technology becomes a potent tool for the screening of mutant strains. In this study, we demonstrated that a genetically engineered yeast strain that can fluorescently sense agonist ligands via the heterologous expression of a human G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and concurrently secrete candidate peptides is highly compatible with single-cell droplet microfluidic technology for the high-throughput screening of new agonistically active peptides. RESULTS The water-in-oil microdroplets were generated using a flow-focusing microfluidic chip to encapsulate engineered yeast cells coexpressing a human GPCR [i.e., angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1)] and a secretory agonistic peptide [i.e., angiotensin II (Ang II)]. The single yeast cells cultured in the droplets were then observed under a microscope and analyzed using image processing incorporating machine learning techniques. The AGTR1-mediated signal transduction elicited by the self-secreted Ang II peptide was successfully detected via the expression of a fluorescent reporter in single-cell yeast droplet cultures. The system could also distinguish Ang II analog peptides with different agonistic activities. Notably, we further demonstrated that the microenvironment of the single-cell droplet culture enabled the detection of rarely existing positive (Ang II-secreting) yeast cells in the model mixed cell library, whereas the conventional batch-culture environment using a shake flask failed to do so. Thus, our approach provided compartmentalized microculture environments, which can prevent the diffusion, dilution, and cross-contamination of peptides secreted from individual single yeast cells for the easy identification of GPCR agonists. CONCLUSIONS We established a droplet-based microfluidic platform that integrated an engineered yeast biosensor strain that concurrently expressed GPCR and self-secreted the agonistic peptides. This offers individually isolated microenvironments that allow the culture of single yeast cells secreting these peptides and gaging their signaling activities, for the high-throughput screening of agonistic peptides. Our platform base on yeast GPCR biosensors and droplet microfluidics will be widely applicable to metabolic engineering, environmental engineering, and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ririka Asama
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Cher J S Liu
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Masahiro Tominaga
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Yu-Ru Cheng
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Bacchus Bio Innovation Co., Ltd., 6-3-7 Minatojima-Minami, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hsiang-Yu Wang
- Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
| | - Jun Ishii
- Graduate School of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
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Nakamura Y, Asama R, Tabata T, Morita K, Maruyama T, Kondo A, Ishii J. Comparative analyses of site-directed mutagenesis of human melatonin MTNR1A and MTNR1B receptors using a yeast fluorescent biosensor. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 118:863-876. [PMID: 33095446 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin is an indoleamine neurohormone made by the pineal gland. Its receptors, MTNR1A and MTNR1B, are members of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family and are involved in sleep, circadian rhythm, and mood disorders, and in the inhibition of cancer growth. These receptors, therefore, represent significant molecular targets for insomnia, circadian sleep disorders, and cancer. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an attractive host for assaying agonistic activity for human GPCR. We previously constructed a GPCR-based biosensor employing a high-sensitivity yeast strain that incorporated both a chimeric yeast-human Gα protein and a bright fluorescent reporter gene (ZsGreen). Similar approaches have been used for simple and convenient measurements of various GPCR activities. In the current study, we constructed a fluorescence-based yeast biosensor for monitoring the signaling activation of human melatonin receptors. We used this system to analyze point mutations, including previously unreported mutations of the consensus sequences of MTNR1A and MTNR1B melatonin receptors and compared their effects. Most mutations in the consensus sequences significantly affected the signaling capacities of both receptors, but several mutations showed differences between these subtype receptors. Thus, this yeast biosensor holds promise for revealing the functions of melatonin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ririka Asama
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takuya Tabata
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kenta Morita
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Maruyama
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.,Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.,Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
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Lattanzi R, Maftei D, Fullone MR, Miele R. Identification and characterization of Prokineticin receptor 2 splicing variant and its modulation in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropeptides 2019; 73:49-56. [PMID: 30553543 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Lattanzi
- Dipartimento di Fisiologia e Farmacologia "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Daniela Maftei
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Fullone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Rossella Miele
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Roma, Italy.
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Hashi H, Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Modifying Expression Modes of Human Neurotensin Receptor Type 1 Alters Sensing Capabilities for Agonists in Yeast Signaling Biosensor. Biotechnol J 2017; 13:e1700522. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Hashi
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
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Nakamura Y, Hashimoto T, Ishii J, Kondo A. Dual-color reporter switching system to discern dimer formations of G-protein-coupled receptors using Cre/loxP
site-specific recombination in yeast. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016; 113:2178-90. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Takamichi Hashimoto
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology; Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada; Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
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Gγ recruitment systems specifically select PPI and affinity-enhanced candidate proteins that interact with membrane protein targets. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16723. [PMID: 26581329 PMCID: PMC4652169 DOI: 10.1038/srep16723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are crucial for the vast majority of biological processes. We previously constructed a Gγ recruitment system to screen PPI candidate proteins and desirable affinity-altered (affinity-enhanced and affinity-attenuated) protein variants. The methods utilized a target protein fused to a mutated G-protein γ subunit (Gγcyto) lacking the ability to localize to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. However, the previous systems were adapted to use only soluble cytosolic proteins as targets. Recently, membrane proteins have been found to form the principal nodes of signaling involved in diseases and have attracted a great deal of interest as primary drug targets. Here, we describe new protocols for the Gγ recruitment systems that are specifically designed to use membrane proteins as targets to overcome previous limitations. These systems represent an attractive approach to exploring novel interacting candidates and affinity-altered protein variants and their interactions with proteins on the inner side of the plasma membrane, with high specificity and selectivity.
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Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Applications of yeast-based signaling sensor for characterization of antagonist and analysis of site-directed mutants of the human serotonin 1A receptor. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 112:1906-15. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
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Fukutani Y, Hori A, Tsukada S, Sato R, Ishii J, Kondo A, Matsunami H, Yohda M. Improving the odorant sensitivity of olfactory receptor-expressing yeast with accessory proteins. Anal Biochem 2015; 471:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2014] [Revised: 10/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Emmerstorfer A, Wriessnegger T, Hirz M, Pichler H. Overexpression of membrane proteins from higher eukaryotes in yeasts. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:7671-98. [PMID: 25070595 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5948-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Heterologous expression and characterisation of the membrane proteins of higher eukaryotes is of paramount interest in fundamental and applied research. Due to the rather simple and well-established methods for their genetic modification and cultivation, yeast cells are attractive host systems for recombinant protein production. This review provides an overview on the remarkable progress, and discusses pitfalls, in applying various yeast host strains for high-level expression of eukaryotic membrane proteins. In contrast to the cell lines of higher eukaryotes, yeasts permit efficient library screening methods. Modified yeasts are used as high-throughput screening tools for heterologous membrane protein functions or as benchmark for analysing drug-target relationships, e.g., by using yeasts as sensors. Furthermore, yeasts are powerful hosts for revealing interactions stabilising and/or activating membrane proteins. We also discuss the stress responses of yeasts upon heterologous expression of membrane proteins. Through co-expression of chaperones and/or optimising yeast cultivation and expression strategies, yield-optimised hosts have been created for membrane protein crystallography or efficient whole-cell production of fine chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Emmerstorfer
- ACIB-Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria
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Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Construction of a yeast-based signaling biosensor for human angiotensin II type 1 receptor via functional coupling between Asn295-mutated receptor and Gpa1/Gi3 chimeric Gα. Biotechnol Bioeng 2014; 111:2220-8. [PMID: 24890663 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor (AGTR1) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Its natural ligand, Ang II, is an important effector molecule controlling blood pressure and volume in the cardiovascular system, and is consequently involved in various diseases such as hypertension and heart failure. Thus, the signaling mediator, AGTR1, is a significant molecular target in medicinal and therapeutic fields. Yeast is a useful organism for sensing GPCR signaling because it provides a simplified version of the complicated machinery used by mammalian cells for signal transduction. Although yeast cells can successfully transmit a signal through a variety of human GPCRs expressed in the cell membrane, there have been no reports of the functional activation of AGTR1-mediated signaling in yeast cells. In the present study, we introduced a single mutation into human AGTR1 and used yeast-human chimeric Gα to exert the functional activation of AGTR1 in yeast cells. The engineered yeast cells expressing AGTR1 mutated at Asn295 and the chimeric Gα successfully transmitted the signal inside the yeast cells in response to Ang II peptide and its analogs (Ang III and Ang IV peptides) added to the assay medium. Further, we demonstrated that the autocrine Ang II peptide and its analog, produced and secreted by the engineered yeast cells, could by themselves promote AGTR1-mediated signaling. This means that screening for agonistic peptides with various sequences from a self-produced genetic library would be a viable strategy. Thus, the constructed yeast biosensor, integrating an Asn295-mutated AGTR1 receptor, will be valuable in the design of drugs to treat AGTR1-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
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Ishii J, Oda A, Togawa S, Fukao A, Fujiwara T, Ogino C, Kondo A. Microbial fluorescence sensing for human neurotensin receptor type 1 using Gα-engineered yeast cells. Anal Biochem 2014; 446:37-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2013.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Revised: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Nakamura Y, Ishii J, Kondo A. Bright fluorescence monitoring system utilizing Zoanthus sp. green fluorescent protein (ZsGreen) for human G-protein-coupled receptor signaling in microbial yeast cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82237. [PMID: 24340008 PMCID: PMC3855394 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are currently the most important pharmaceutical targets for drug discovery because they regulate a wide variety of physiological processes. Consequently, simple and convenient detection systems for ligands that regulate the function of GPCR have attracted attention as powerful tools for new drug development. We previously developed a yeast-based fluorescence reporter ligand detection system using flow cytometry. However, using this conventional detection system, fluorescence from a cell expressing GFP and responding to a ligand is weak, making detection of these cells by fluorescence microscopy difficult. We here report improvements to the conventional yeast fluorescence reporter assay system resulting in the development of a new highly-sensitive fluorescence reporter assay system with extremely bright fluorescence and high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. This new system allowed the easy detection of GPCR signaling in yeast using fluorescence microscopy. Somatostatin receptor and neurotensin receptor (implicated in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, respectively) were chosen as human GPCR(s). The facile detection of binding to these receptors by cognate peptide ligands was demonstrated. In addition, we established a highly sensitive ligand detection system using yeast cell surface display technology that is applicable to peptide screening, and demonstrate that the display of various peptide analogs of neurotensin can activate signaling through the neurotensin receptor in yeast cells. Our system could be useful for identifying lead peptides with agonistic activity towards targeted human GPCR(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Nakamura Y, Takemoto N, Ishii J, Kondo A. Simultaneous method for analyzing dimerization and signaling of G-protein-coupled receptor in yeast by dual-color reporter system. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 111:586-96. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2013] [Revised: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Norika Takemoto
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
| | - Jun Ishii
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology; Kobe University; Kobe Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering; Kobe University; 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada Kobe 657-8501 Japan
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