Toepassingen van moleculaire fluorescentie.

Microfluorimetry research in a collaborative effort with similar national and international groups focuses on the development of theoretical models and the use of a range of fluorescence techniques in the visible part of the spectrum to characterize in a non-destructive way the optical properties of cells and tissues. Although intrinsic fluorophores for example Tryptophan present in most proteins can be used, their ubiquitous presence in almost all proteins and enzymes and still not very well understood interactions hinders the quantitative analysis of the images and data collected.

Therefore the fluorescence methodologies of choice use with great success external fluorophores.These typically very bright and stable fluorescent labels for example attached to specific antibodies allow very precise monitoring of cellular and tissue biological, biochemical and physical processes.For this type of fluorophore to function cell-membrane permeability is a must.

Another method applied with great success is the expression directly inside cells of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and its variations in via site-directed mutagenesis modified genes, http://userpages.umbc.edu/~jili/ench772/intro.html,http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/Haseloff/GFP/GFPbackgrnd.html. Combined with stable and bright laser light sources, fast computers for instrument control, data collection and analysis, image processing software, microscopy based methods monitor in extremely small femtoliter volumes via the high sensitivity of the fluorochromes changes in their local cellular environment.

Huidige projecten in het fluorescentie onderzoek:

• Dr. Martin vandeVen: Microfluorimetry 

Voor verdere uitleg over deze projecten kan je terecht bij volgende personen: Prof. Dr. Marcel Ameloot en Dr. Martin vandeVen. 

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