Biological processes such as membrane trafficking, signalling, membrane organisation and cell–cell interactions, depend on electrostatic interactions from charges on biomolecules and membranes. However, understanding these interactions is limited by the lack of measurement methods capable of capturing dynamics at the nanometre scale and fast time frames.
The ERC-funded project aims to establish MIETEN as a new technology for studying how charge shapes the behaviour of proteins and membranes. It will enable measurements of the charges and sizes of individual membrane proteins, as well as the examination of structural changes, conformational dynamics, and interactions in response to changes in membrane potential.
MIETEN is centred on developing new microscopy technology with strong relevance to biomedical and immunological research. In particular, the methods will help address questions involving membrane protein organisation, trafficking, signalling and intermembrane interactions in systems relevant to immune-cell communication and immunotherapy.
‘This programme gives us the opportunity to create new quantitative tools that can link charge and structure to molecular behaviour in ways that weren’t previously possible,’ says Narain. ‘By combining new imaging techniques with a deeper view of electrostatics, we hope to uncover insights that can advance our understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms and create opportunities for progress in drug development, early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.’
MIETEN will operate in conjunction with advanced imaging platforms such as the Biophotonic Correlative Optical Platform (BioCOP), developed by Narain at the Rosalind Franklin Institute as part of the Biophysical Immunology group led by Prof. Marco Fritzsche. Together, MIETEN and BioCOP provide complementary capabilities that will help address open questions in the newly emerging field of immunobiophysics.