Watching the inner life of a cell
Cellular
processes are orchestrated by a large number of biomolecules in a spatially
and temporally coordinated manner within a tiny volume. To uncover the
underlying organizational principles and their functional relevance, we take
microscopy visualization as the primary approach to systematically map the
spatial localization, temporal dynamics and activity profiles of proteins
and nucleic acids.
We are particularly interested in the following problems:
- Physical organization and dynamics of the genome,
- Architecture of large protein complexes such as the cilium transition zone, and
- Subcellular compartmentalization of signaling molecules, particularly
in the G-protein coupled receptors signaling pathway, and how this spatial distribution defines signaling specificity.
In order to study these systems, we are developing the following microscopy technologies:
- Super-resolution and light-sheet microscopes that can visualize subcellular structures at a higher spatial resolution, record long term cell behavior, and track cells in intact animals, and
- New fluorescent probes based on fluorescent proteins, nanobodies and aptamers that reports the localization, conformation and functional modification of proteins and nucleic acids.
Research updates
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| CRISPR-Tag (Nat. Commun. 2018) |
Correlating STORM images (PNAS 2018) |
Molecular architecture of ciliary transition zone (Nat. Cell. Biol. 2017) |