82nd iCeMS Seminar/CeMI Seminar Series 24: Prof. Nils G. Walter

CeMI: Center for Meso-Bio Single-Molecule Imaging

Nature and Nanotechnology likewise employ nanoscale machines that self-assemble into structures of complex architecture and functionality. Fluorescence microscopy offers a non-invasive tool to probe and ultimately dissect and control these nano- assemblies in real-time. In particular, single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) allows one to measure distances at the 2–8 nm scale, whereas complementary super-resolution localization techniques based on Gaussian fitting of imaged point spread functions (PSFs) easily measure distances in the 10 nm and longer range. Prof. Walter will describe how he and his colleagues have used smFRET to dissect the complex conformational dynamics of a pre-mRNA as it is processed by the cellular spliceosome machinery on the way towards becoming a messenger RNA (mRNA) ready for gene expression; and how they have utilized super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to monitor the walk of molecular spider nanorobots on tracks defined by programmable DNA scaffolds called origami.

Lecturer Title	Prof. Nils G. Walter Department of Chemistry, Single Molecule Analysis Group University of Michigan Title: Scientists Watching Action Movies: Real-Time Single Molecule Fluorescence Imaging of Natural and Engineered Nucleic Acid Nanomachines
Date / Time	June 20, 2011 / 10:00-11:00
Venue	Roof Terrace, 5th floor of the East Bldg. Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University Directions
Flyer	PDF (139KB)
Host	Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University
Co-Host	Center for Frontier Medicine, Global COE Program, Kyoto University
Contact	iCeMS Kusumi Lab / Fax: 075-751-4113 akusumi@frontier.kyoto-u.ac.jp