The distribution, dynamics and interactions of membrane proteins play important roles in cellular signaling. However, direct observation of protein locations using optical techniques is often limited by diffraction. Most super-resolution techniques trade imaging time for improved resolution and are not amenable to observing the dynamics and interactions of membrane proteins that often have diffusion constants on the order of 0.1 micron^2/s. Single particle tracking techniques using quantum dots have provided single particle localizations with a precision well below the diffraction limit, however, clustering of multiple particles limits the unique identification and thus tracking of individual particles throughout the (possibly dynamic) clustering process. I describe a high-speed hyperspectral microscope and analysis approaches that results in the capability to track membrane proteins at densities up to 10 proteins per square micron at 30 Hz.


May 7, 2012, 10:30. ICFO's Auditorium

Hosted by Prof. María García-Parajo