Investigation of vesicle trafficking to the primary using advanced microscopy and AI-based image analysis

DC11 will investigate microtubule-based vesicle trafficking pathways responsible for the delivery of transmembrane proteins, such as the cation channel polycystin-2 (PC2), to the primary cilium of kidney epithelial cells. This will be done by (1) Mapping the three-dimensional organization of the microtubule network in polarized kidney epithelium cells using Expansion Microscopy; (2) Using 3D live imaging with Lattice Light Sheet and Spinning Disk microscopy combined with AI-based analysis of vesicle trajectories to determine the trafficking pathways of transmembrane proteins such as PC2 to the cilium; (3) Investigating the consequences of perturbing specific trafficking steps in ciliary targeting by using inducible motor recruitment assays and rapid protein degradation approaches.

Fellow profile: Master degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related field. This project is very suitable for students with experience with molecular biology, cell biology and/or biochemistry techniques.