#  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:

   ![CL](/sites/g/files/omnuum7281/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/prigozhin/files/cl_01.png?itok=Mrs_JXQ1) 

 


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:

   ![cryo](/sites/g/files/omnuum7281/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/prigozhin/files/cryo.png?itok=kYGGaglB) 

 

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.