Imaging Transcription Factors Interacting with DNA
The direct observation is a very specific and straight way to understand the dynamic mechanisms that regulate the transcription factor search and binding process. Thence, we develop new imaging techniques in order to discriminate and track with enhanced precision single fluorescent proteins along DNA in microfluidic channels.
Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy is an optical technique that allows live imaging with sub diffraction resolution. We are combining STED imaging with Double Helix three dimensional super-localization for nanometric tracking. Plasmonic fluorescent probes are also synthesized to improve depletion efficiency.
The final goal of this project is to record the movement of transcription factors along stretched DNA containing identified binding sites and to use those images in order to study the target search and binding process.
Keywords: Microscopy, Superresolution, Live Single Molecule Imaging
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