The RMS are pleased to be partnering with Leica Microsystems in delivering this RMS Corporate Member Hosted Event.

The cortex is a many-layered and complex area of the brain. To form this structure, neurons need to migrate during development from where they arise to their functional layer. This cortical migration requires precisely regulated interactions between cell adhesion receptors. These are proteins that interact with other molecules to guide neurons to their niche location. In recent years, Professor Elena Seiradake’s team at the University of Oxford have functionally characterised several protein complexes that create a network of cell adhesion receptors. They use a combination of structural biology (macromolecular crystallography and cryo-EM) and cellular biology to create tools that enable them to study the function of each complex in vitro and in vivo. 

In this webinar, members of Elena’s team will present case studies exploring the microscopy-based tools and assays they use to elucidate some of these complex interactions, and how these can contribute to wider understanding of the biology of neuron migration. These include surface binding assays, aggregation assays, and stripe assays, as well as sample preparation for cryo-electron tomography. 

Key learnings:

  • How different microscopy techniques are used to explore the role of receptors in guiding brain development.
  • How cell biology assays such as stripe, cell aggregation and surface binding assays can help investigate the functions of receptors and their complexes in vitro. 
  • How the THUNDER Imaging System within The University of Oxford’s Micron Bioimaging Facility supports this research. 

Banner image shows a stripe assay performed on a THUNDER Imager Live Cell & 3D Assay. Courtesy of Maria Carrasquero Ordaz, University of Oxford.

A Leica online event, hosted by the Royal Microscopical Society.

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Presenters

Amy Victoria Roberts

Amy Victoria Roberts

2nd year DPhil (PhD) Student in Biochemistry

Miguel Berbeira-Santana

Miguel Berbeira-Santana

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Structural Biology

 

RMS Contact

Victoria Masters

Victoria Masters

Event & HR Director