Single-particle imaging of molecular trafficking in neurons

Neurons communicate by secreting neurotransmitters (often amino acids or peptides) via the processes called exocytosis (see Figure) and endocytosis.  The reverse process endocytosis also occurs retrieving membrane and receptor bound neurotransmitter for recycling. In this project, we aim to visualise molecular trafficking involved in these processes.  We will track single-molecules by tagging them with optically bright nanoparticles, which will be imaged using advanced optical imaging systems. For example, tagging enzymes, released in exocytosis, with highly visible and photostable nanoparticles (as schematically presented in Figure), e.g. luminescence nanodiamonds, will allow their tracking in the cell for hours.

This project has been funded by Macquarie Research Innovation fund scheme, and carried out collaboratively with A/Prof Ann Goodchild, Australian School of Advanced Medicine, and Prof Ewa Goldys, Physics, MQ

For more information on this project, please contact A/Prof A. Zvyagin.

Figure. Schematic diagram of the cell hijacking with a nanoparticle (red octagon). Vesicle migration (bilayer circles) via stages 1 to 6 eventuates to the vesicle opening to the intracellular space, which exposes an enzyme biomolecule (green circle) to external environment. The antibody (blue forks)-biofunctionalised nanoparticle can bind to this enzyme and be internalised via step 7.

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