Research

The Prigozhin lab does collaborative and interdisciplinary work in the area of single-cell and single-molecule biophysics of transmembrane signaling via G-protein-coupled receptors. We also develop methods in time-resolved cryo-vitrification and various types of electron and optical microscopy. Our experimental efforts are often accompanied by theoretical and computational work including stochastic modeling, inference, and statistical analysis.

Multicolor electron microscopy:

We are developing a method for single-molecule multicolor electron microscopy that uses inorganic nanoparticles as luminescent protein tags. Under excitation by an electron beam, these nanoparticles emit light via a process known as cathodoluminescence. Such "cathodophores" will allow visualizing the cellular ultrastructure and individual proteins in a single experiment. We are using this method to study how cell membranes facilitate compartmentalization of signaling proteins.

Time-resolved cryo-vitrification:

Cell signaling involves orchestrated motions of proteins and membranes triggered by a stimulus (e.g., addition of a hormone or a drug). To capture these motions, we are developing tools that will allow freezing biological samples at ultrafast time delays following stimulation for subsequent super-resolved optical and electron imaging. We are using these tools to capture transient molecular interactions involved in cell signaling.