Live-cell analysis system

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 569979843

We are applying for a live-cell analysis system to study cell growth and cell death in cell culture. The advantage of this analytical method is that the behavior of the cells can be observed over an extended period of time. In contrast to currently used assays, where information about growth behavior is lost due to endpoint and starting point measurements, this system enables continuous monitoring. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the kinetics of cell proliferation and apoptosis in response to different stimuli or genetic manipulation. The applicants work in the field of tumor biochemistry, with a focus on the characterization of cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and cell death. A particular research focus lies on proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). PROTACs are small molecules composed of a target protein-binding moiety, an E3 ligase-recruiting moiety, and a linker. Unlike conventional inhibitors, PROTACs induce the proteolytic degradation of the target protein. This makes PROTACs a unique and novel class of therapeutic agents, with the advantage that the degradation of the target protein results in the inactivation of all its functions. Furthermore, PROTACs remain active even after inducing degradation of their target, which makes their effects more sustained and specific than those of conventional inhibitors and allows the use of lower compound concentrations. Despite their novelty, the PROTAC concept has fundamentally changed the development of targeted therapies and represents a highly interesting and promising research field. The applicants’ group is one of the leading labs in PROTAC development. Together with their medicinal chemistry partners, they have already developed numerous potent PROTAC series. However, a major bottleneck in this endeavor has been the cellular analysis. The effects of PROTACs on cell growth, migration, apoptosis, and immune cell interactions with tumor cells have so far been assessed through manually created growth curves and microscopic observation. There is therefore an urgent need for an automated system, for which a live-cell analysis system is ideally suited. The advantage lies in the use of microscope optics within the incubator that takes images of the cells at defined time intervals, enabling automated, unbiased, and scalable cell characterization. Beyond its use in the applicants’ research group, this system will enrich research at Kiel University (CAU) as a whole. In particular, research groups in pharmacy, at the University Hospital (UKSH), and others—most of which work on oncological and inflammatory research questions—will benefit significantly from the acquisition of a live-cell analysis system.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Lebend-Zell-Analyse System
• Instrumentation Group: 5042 Mikroskope für Hochdurchsatz und Screening
• Applicant Institution: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Leader: Professor Dr. Elmar Wolf