Dr. Doris Heinrich, Department for Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU)

Project:
The adhesion and migration behaviour of living cells is controlled by biochemical signalling cascades and external stimuli, i.e. mechanical forces, which influence the reorganisation of the cytoskeleton and especially the actin cortex. The aim of this project is to investigate motile cells in 3D topologies with defined boundary conditions, like symmetric 3D surface topologies, to control the reorganisation of the cytoskeleton or chemotactic stimuli. Relevant questions are, how the elasticity and structure of the cellular cytoskeleton determine curvature recognition, global signalling to initiate directional cell migration or pattern formation like actin waves and their deflection on surface structures. By using fluorescently labelled cells and knock-out mutants, lacking relevant signalling proteins, temporal and spatial interplay of signalling cascades in the defined cell state can be correlated. In addition to single cell experiments, cell compounds like Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) or neuronal cells will be investigated, which are relevant for medical applications i.e. tumor metastasis and prostheses compatibility. Their behaviour as a granular cell system of deformable objects in a 3d obstacle array will be modelled.

Required Skills

• Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
• Life Cell Imaging
• Image Data Analysis
• Analysis Algorithm Programming and Modification
• Cell Modelling

More information about the group
Dr. Heinrich's Website