Methods

We are currently using the following methods

Confocal fluorescence microscopy. This method is being widely used to study specific molecules in live and fixed cells. We use it for quantitative as well as qualitative analyses.


Molecular biology methods. These include standard DNA methods such as recombinant DNA technology, cloning and transfections, and also protein methods such as Western blotting.

Electron microscopy. The Unit for Cellular Electron Microscopy (UCEM) has recently acquired a JEOL 120 kV transmission electron microscope, which is located at the Dept. of Pathology. The unit carries out conventional plastic-embedding electron microscopy as well as cryo-immunoelectron microscopy.


Protein expression and purification. We express recombinant proteins in E.coli and purify these by various affinity chromatography methods. We also use an ÄKTA explorer system for protein purification.

Drosophila methods. We have a Drosophila facility equipped with two fly incubators and four fly workstations which include high-end Leica stereomicroscopes.


Assays for cell signalling and intracellular trafficking. Such assays are often based on confocal microscopy but also include Western blotting, electrochemiluminescence assays and others.

Assays for protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions. In order to assay protein-protein interactions we typically use co-immunoprecipitations, GST pull-down assays and the yeast two-hybrid system. We also use a number of methods to study protein-lipid interactions, mostly concerning the interactions between phosphoinositides and their effectors.