Characterization of single cell dynamics using microfluidics
EMSL Project ID
42796
Abstract
Cell communities exhibit complex responses to changes in their environment. Studying the molecular changes (e.g., RNA and protein) associated with these changes is likely to improve the ability to predict the behavior of these communities and engineer them for human benefit. However, traditional assays that measure these molecular changes at the population level obscure the underlying cell to cell variability that exist even in homogenous (clonal) populations. Here we propose experiments to characterize signaling networks in single cells using quantitative real-time PCR and microfluidic systems to decrease the necessary sample input and increase the resolution of the molecular measurements. By understanding the differences in signaling at the level of the cell, rather than cell population, we can begin to unravel the apparent heterogeneity in cell response (so called 'rare-events' that mediate many biological processes.
Project Details
Start Date
2010-11-01
End Date
2011-11-06
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members