Exploiting nanotools for the development of novel functional assays for membrane proteins
Event details
| Date | 05.02.2010 |
| Hour | 10:30 |
| Speaker | Karen L. Martinez, Associate Professor, U Copenhagen |
| Location |
BM 3.202
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Due to the importance of their physiological functions, cell membranes represent critical targets in biological research. Membrane proteins, which make up about one third of the proteome ensure the transduction of the signals across the lipid membrane and the activation of intracellular processes. Thus, the fine-tuning of the cellular response upon stimulation comes from a large variety of membrane proteins responding to various external stimuli and to their interactions with a myriad of intracellular proteins resulting in a very complex cellular network. Membrane proteins are therefore highly selective key-players in cell signaling and major drug targets.
The last decade has seen the emergence of multiple technological innovations to be exploited for the elucidation of biological sensing. Some of them appear appropriate for the development of novel membrane proteins based assays. During my talk, I will review our three research axes combining such nanotools with the high selectivity and pharmacology of membrane proteins for the development of novel in vitro and in cell biosensors, in addition to fundamental investigations of the biological systems. In particular, I will present our results towards the development of biosensors using nanowires field-effect transistors (bioFET) and the interface of arrays of semiconductor nanowires with living cells for cellular biosensing.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Contact
- Juergen Brugger, EPFL-STI-IMT-LMIS