Nanoimaging of DNA nanoagents interacting with cells (A11)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 201269156

Many fundamental processes in biology happen at interfaces. Especially the plasma membrane is of major interest for cell biological and biophysical studies, as it links the inner workings of cells to their surroundings and allows them to sense, interact, and react. We plan to develop methodologies using DNA-PAINT and DNA origami nanoagents to probe and manipulate cell surface receptor molecules on the level of single proteins with thus far unprecedented detail and precision in control. We will use novel labeling probes to probe a multitude of cell surface receptors on the single protein level, followed by prescribed perturbation using DNA origami structures. We also aim to elucidate the inner workings of the focal adhesome by probing and manipulating key players in adhesion using DNA-PAINT and DNA-based nanoagents.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1032: Nanoagents for Spatio-temporal Control of Molecular and Cellular Reactions
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Ralf Jungmann