Norwegian Molecular Imaging Consortium - Subnode: Subcellular interactions and imaging - NTNU

Knowledge about protein-protein interactions as well as interactions between other molecules is of critical importance for functional genomics. By providing the state-of-the-art technologies to study inter-and intramolecular interactions, the national res earch community will be able to move functional genomics forward. At NTNU we have long experience with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), and CLSM has been extended into multiphoton microscopy and fluorescence cor relation spectroscopy. In addition we want to establish total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) for studying inter-and intramolecular interactions. By forming a node within molecular imaging at NTNU our expertise and instrumentation are made available for researchers in Norway. The various techniques have its own advantages: Using confocal and multiphoton laser scanning microscopy subcellular location and distribution of fluorescent molecules is obtained. CLSM is also used in fluoresce nce resonance energy transfer (FRET) to study interactions between molecules in close proximity of each other (<80 Å). When the molecules are further apart, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy can provide information about intermolecular interactions. T IRF provides high quality images of fluorescent labelled single molecules near a surface and binding of proteins to membranes or surfaces. AFM gives information on structure of macromolecules, their supramolecular assemblies, topographically resolved mech anical properties and dynamic force spectroscopy at the single-molecule level. All together this array of technologies should help FUGE related projects through to conduct their studies within molecular imaging in general and specifically within intermo lecular interaction. To analyze the large amount of data and images obtained by the various techniques, advanced imaging software will be available.