Fluorescence spectroscopy applied to membrane protein interactions. Development of molecular probes to detect cholesterol levels in cellular membranes
Using multiple independent fluorescence techniques we are investigating the role of cholesterol in pore formation and the nature of the Perfringolysin O(PFO)-cholesterol interaction. We have found that different PFO mutants binds to membranes containing different cholesterol levels. We are now optimizing the PFO sensitivity to cholesterol in a non-lytic variant to develop a molecular probe for cell imaging and cholesterol levels' detection.
Research Interest
Potential Application
Pore-forming bacterial toxins
Delivery of macromolecules into cells
Engineering bacterial protein to develop cholesterol sensing probes
Detection of cholesterol levels on cell membranes using fluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, and other techniques
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Study of membrane protein interactions
Protein translocation through cellular membranes
Delivery of proteins into targeted cells
University of Massachusetts
Institute for Cellular Engineering
686 North Pleasant Street
159 Goessmann Laboratory
Amherst, MA 01003
