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Project

Development of spectrally and polarization resolved high resolution second harmonic imaging for studying microtubules and mitochondrial transport.

Microtubules (MTs) are fibrillar structures within cells that serve as tracks to transport cellular cargo, like mitochondria. Especially in neurons, these organelles travel long distances to locally produce energy at growth cones and synaptic contacts. MTs play an important role in mitochondrial transport and defects have been described in several neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer). We will investigate the transport and the interaction of the mitochondria with MTs by second harmonic (SH) imaging microscopy (SHIM). This is a technique that can be used to visualize MTs directly, independently of exogenous labeling as SH signals originate from the interaction of intense light pulses with specific structures and building blocks of MTs. SHIM is not yet a standard tool, not only because of instrumental requirements but also because signal interpretation is complex, due to all structural changes and MT modifications that can influence SH generation. This complexity requires elaborate models and often simplifying assumptions, to make data analysis possible. We will extend SHIM by combining polarization and spectral information obtained from live cells to provide additional input for the modeling. We will also add extra spatial resolution to SHIM by developing a structured illumination approach for the coherent SH light. These new techniques will be used to address the link between MTs and neuronal transport deficiencies in more detail.

Date:1 Jan 2015 →  31 Dec 2018
Keywords:Microtubuli en mitochondriaal transport
Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences