6266.1:
Single molecule spectroscopy for probing receptor mediated signalling in vivo and in vitro (Project of the Innovation Committee TOP NANO 21)
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor signaling will be investigated by single molecule spectroscopy and imaging in live biological cells, cell membrane fragments and reconstituted systems. Conformational changes occuring during the intra- and intermolecular signaling reactions at the receptor and the various signal transducing molecules will be measured with sub-nanometer precision of intra- and intermolecular distances at individual molecules. This approach is going to elucidate the molecular mechanism of central signaling reactions which have direct impact for the development of therapeutic compounds. The multidisciplinary project is based on a number of novel developments such as in vitro and in vivo combinatorial genetics, cellular expression systems, in vitro and in vivo labeling procedures, miniaturized sample purification and preparation technologies and fianllay single molecule spectroscopies and microscopies.