Department Bionanoscience
Principal investigator Kristin Grussmayer
E-mail address k.s.grussmayer@tudelft.nl
Website www.tudelft.nl/grussmayerlab
Self-labelling Protein Tags for Quantitative Super-resolution Live-cell Imaging
Supervisor: Ran Huo, R.Huo@tudelft.nl
Live cell imaging at nanoscale gives us insight into the cellular organization and function during dynamic process in life sciences. Super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) as a gentle live cell imaging approach has the potential not only for enhancing the resolution beyond diffraction limit, but also for extracting quantitative information of molecular density, which could help us better understand protein structure-function relationships in, for example, protein aggregation underlying neurodegenera-
tive diseases.
SOFI requires imaging data of fluctuating fluorescence signals that need to be tailored for optimal resolution, imaging speed, and quantitative readout. This project aims to evaluate and optimize novel classes of fluorescent probes and labeling techniques that are available at the Grußmayer lab, mainly self-labeling Halotags with exchangeable ligands (xHTLs) and self-blinking dyes, which also allows you to explore the possibility of multicolor live-cell imaging with SOFI.
Techniques
You will learn about mammalian cell culture and fluorescent labeling techniques. You will get hands-on experience with our state-of-the-art super-resolution microscopes and advanced image analysis. You will work closely with the interdisciplinary team at Grußmayer lab. Depending on your background and interests, you could either focus on optimization of data acquisition or data analysis.
Further reading
Exchangeable HaloTag Ligands for Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Self-Blinking Dyes Unlock High-Order and Multiplane Super-Resolution Optical Fluctuation Imaging