Particle Tracking

In the last decade, a revolution has occurred in fluorescence microscopy making it possible to follow individual molecules and particles. Imagine tracking a tourist in Rome using GPS. From the resulting trajectory, you can gather information over what mode of transportation this person prefers, what their daily routine is and what interests he or she has. We can gather similar information by following individual biomolecules within living cells using single particle tracking (SPT).

Orbital Tracking

We are developing and enhancing a novel 3D tracking microscope. Based on confocal microscopy it enables the user to have simultaneous widefield observation. It can be used to observe dynamical systems on large cellular scale as well as on the DNA level. So far we have characterised the system and tested it to be capable to elucidate endosomal transport along the microtubular highway and we are modifying the microscope for refocussing capabilities for larger cell aggregates such as embryonal cells.

mRNA localisation

Localisation of mRNA plays an important rule in the asymmetric distribution of proteins. We have observed the colocalised movement of two mRNA, Ash1 and Ist2, in budding yeast. Through our confocal spinning disc system, we could visualise the movement of a particle containing both mRNAs at the same time from its undocking from the mothers nucleus to the bud tip. Due to the high speeds, one can obtain with the spinning disc, we could record a stack of 6 image planes in 4 microns within 330 ms.