Nanoactuation of plasma membrane protein clusters
Lead Research Organisation:
Nottingham Trent University
Department Name: School of Science & Technology
Abstract
Plasma membrane proteins show complex dynamic ordering, such as clustering, on a nanoscale level, which typically changes after external stimulation. The mechanisms of these processes and the consequences for signal transduction are of great interest as extra-cellular signaling events are translated into cells via the plasma membrane. We aim to actuate plasma membrane proteins in a controlled fashion using rationally designed nano-objects and to visualize this interfacing process on the nanometer scale, yielding new insights into cell signalling via the plasma membrane. Rationally designed nano-objects with controlled interfaces to actuate proteins in membranes specifically address the call requirement for groundbreaking research in nanoscale interfaces. The nano-objects bridge the gap between studies on isolated proteins that cannot account for protein clustering in the native environment and whole cell studies, that do not allow the controlled actuation of the nano-clusters.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Quentin Hanley (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Ghafari H
(2012)
Analysis of layered assays and volume microarrays in stratified media.
in The Analyst
Ghafari H
(2012)
Macromolecular binding and kinetic analysis with optically sectioned planar format assays
in The Analyst
Gholami Z
(2014)
Controlled assembly of SNAP-PNA-fluorophore systems on DNA templates to produce fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
in Bioconjugate chemistry
Gholami Z
(2013)
PNA-induced assembly of fluorescent proteins using DNA as a framework.
in Bioconjugate chemistry
Gholami Z
(2013)
Fluorescence Anisotropy in a Protein: DNA System Undergoing Inducible Assembly
in Biophysical Journal
Gholami Z.
(2013)
PNA-protein conjugates for nano-scale modeling of protein aggregates
Zolmajd Haghighi Z.
(2014)
Theoretical and lab based studies of fluorescence anisotropy toward the analysis of multiple homo-FRET pairs
Zolmajd-Haghighi Z
(2014)
When one plus one does not equal two: fluorescence anisotropy in aggregates and multiply labeled proteins.
in Biophysical journal
Zolmajd-Haghighi Z
(2016)
When R > 0.8R 0: fluorescence anisotropy, non-additive intensity, and cluster size.
in Methods and applications in fluorescence
Zolmajd-Haghighi Z
(2014)
Enhancement, Equal Fluorescence Efficiency, and Quenching in the Interpretation of Fluorescence Anisotropy Data
in Biophysical Journal
Description | The project developed technologies for assembling and enumerating clusters of proteins. We discovered that a formalism originally developed in the 1960s needed to be refined to take into account the real behaviour of fluorescent dyes. |
Exploitation Route | It is anticipated that this work will be used by researchers using fluorescence anisotropy methods to understand protein cluster formation and related assemblies. The theoretical framework developed and the new systems created for precisely assembling fluorophores will enable new capabilities in cell imaging. |
Sectors | Education Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology Other |
Description | The publications are relatively new, but they are beginning to be cited. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Education |
Description | NanoActuate NanoScience E+ Consortium |
Organisation | Eindhoven University of Technology |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This grant was funded via the NanoScience E+ scheme and includes: Nottingham Trent University The University of Twente, Netherlands The Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biology, Dortmund, Germany. The four named individuals at the respective institutions began working together in 2008. Collaboration has included exchange of students and International visits between institutions. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | NanoActuate NanoScience E+ Consortium |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This grant was funded via the NanoScience E+ scheme and includes: Nottingham Trent University The University of Twente, Netherlands The Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biology, Dortmund, Germany. The four named individuals at the respective institutions began working together in 2008. Collaboration has included exchange of students and International visits between institutions. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | NanoActuate NanoScience E+ Consortium |
Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This grant was funded via the NanoScience E+ scheme and includes: Nottingham Trent University The University of Twente, Netherlands The Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biology, Dortmund, Germany. The four named individuals at the respective institutions began working together in 2008. Collaboration has included exchange of students and International visits between institutions. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | NanoActuate NanoScience E+ Consortium |
Organisation | University of Twente |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This grant was funded via the NanoScience E+ scheme and includes: Nottingham Trent University The University of Twente, Netherlands The Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, The Netherlands The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biology, Dortmund, Germany. The four named individuals at the respective institutions began working together in 2008. Collaboration has included exchange of students and International visits between institutions. |
Start Year | 2008 |