Project

Discipline

Self-assembly; X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy; low Reynolds number swimmers; in situ dynamics; Small angle X-ray scattering; Actin networks; cell motility; in-homogenous networks; DNA condensation/decondensation; Fibrin networks; microfluidics

Lead
Lay summary
Projekttitel In situ dynamics and fluidics of biological matter Hauptgesuchsteller Prof. Dr. Thomas Pfohl, Chemie Departement, Universität Basel Lead Combining optical imaging and X-ray techniques with state of the art microfluidic technologies, we will be able to characterize the dynamics of hierarchical self-assembly and self-organization of protein networks and hybrid chromatin-like assemblies as well as the mobility and motility of biological microobjects in hydrodynamic flow.   Hintergrund Understanding the fundamental principles of the dynamics, evolution and pattern formation in biological processes will facilitate control, manipulation and smart emulation of biological systems. As many biological processes consist of a series of transient steps in their reaction pathways that are undetectable in bulk measurements, microfluidics-based experiments provide an opportunity to study the complexity of hierarchical dynamic and structural assembly and to generate models, which reproduce biological processes in vitro.   Das Ziel The mobility and motility of biological objects in microflow is of fundamental relevance in order to understand blood flow, intra- and extracellular transport, infection pathways and hydrodynamic “communication” of unicellular parasites and bacteria. We will mainly focus our hydrodynamic studies on the relationship between flow fields and biological objects at low Reynolds numbers. The proposed experiments on cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins follow a bottom-up approach to understand the fundamental mechanisms of bundling and network formation with increasing hierarchy and complexity. Studying these cellular principles in a physiological context, we will gain new insights into the underlying mechanisms. Owing to a better and easier in vitro manipulation, the study and formation of hybrid chromatin-like assemblies in variable experimental conditions advances an understanding of DNA properties from real chromatin. We expect to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms and aim to reveal the relationship between transcription and regulation of DNA with the compaction state in which it is found.   Bedeutung The proposed research aims at a deeper fundamental understanding of the self-assembly and self-organization processes in biological systems. The innovative nature of the proposed experimental approaches will allow the monitoring of dynamic processes far from equilibrium, giving access to the detection of intermediate reaction states. Currently, these research approaches are starting to receive significant interest by the scientific community worldwide because of their potential use for studies of underlying fundamental mechanisms by emulating cell and tissue systems and for novel biotechnical and biomedical applications

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 21.02.2013

Active participation

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

The hierarchical self-organization of biological matter in cells, tissues, and organisms is one of the most fascinating phenomena in life science. Therefore, great efforts are devoted to elucidate the dynamics of these self-organization processes. Understanding the fundamental principles of the dynamics, evolution and pattern formation in biological processes will facilitate control, manipulation and smart emulation of biological systems. As many biological processes consist of a series of transient steps in their reaction pathways that are undetectable in bulk measurements, microfluidics-based experiments provide an opportunity to study the complexity of hierarchical dynamic and structural assembly and to generate models, which reproduce biological processes in vitro. The precise control of external parameters and the possibility to generate gradients on the nano- and micrometer length scale allows for investigations of intermediates and transitional states as well as dynamic and kinetic properties of the studied systems. The proposed studies will focus on in situ formation and design of protein fiber networks as cell and tissue mimics, the self-assembly, control and transcription of chromatin-like materials and mobility and motility of biological microobjects in flow.The proposed experiments on cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins follow a bottom-up approach to understand the fundamental mechanisms of bundling and network formation with increasing hierarchy and complexity. Studying these cellular principles in a physiological context, we will gain new insights into the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we will not only be able to manipulate and test biological processes but also to emulate biological systems by developing artificial cell and microtissue systems.Owing to a better and easier in vitro manipulation, the study and formation of hybrid chromatin-like assemblies in variable experimental conditions advances an understanding of DNA properties from real chromatin. We expect to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms and aim to reveal the relationship between transcription and regulation of DNA with the compaction state in which it is found.The mobility and motility of biological objects in microflow is of fundamental relevance in order to understand blood flow, intra- and extracellular transport, infection pathways and hydrodynamic “communication” of unicellular parasites and bacteria. We will mainly focus our hydrodynamic studies on the relationship between flow fields and biological objects at low Reynolds numbers. Apart from analyzing unique phenomena, such as cross-streamline migration, tumbling, hydrodynamic interactions, hydrodynamic influence on cell metabolisms and behavior, these investigations may have an impact on biotechnical and biomedical applications.