CONSTRUCTION OF A YEAST-CELL FUSION SYSTEM USING A FLUID INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT

A novel system for cell fusion between prototroph yeasts was constructed using a fluid integrated circuit (FIC) in which all micromanipulating components were photo-lithographically integrated on a small substrate (5 x 7 cm). Each parent protoplast was gradually introduced from each inlet using micropumps made of piezoelectric transducers on the FIC. Two kinds of protoplasts were sent one by one into narrow pathways (the minimum diameter: 50-mu-m), dielectrophoretically trapped at the opening made at the center of an insulating barrier placed between parallel electrodes and an exclusive one-to-one hybrid was continuously formed under intensive pulses. Each fusant was sent to an outlet.