Single-molecule Imaging of DNA-protein interactions

Transcription factors are proteins that bind to DNA and regulate gene transcription. Surprisingly, it turns out these proteins also have a strong affinity for each other: they can form droplet-like structures on DNA.

Little is known about these transcription factor droplets. What is their biological purpose? And what is the chemistry underlying droplet formation?

We use microfluidics and fluorescence microscopy to visualize interactions between DNA and a plant transcription factor (ARF) at the single-molecule level.

Various projects are available related to protein- or DNA-engineering, surface chemistry and single-molecule imaging. Start date is flexible, please contact for project details!