Super-resolution imaging of transcription in living cells

19 Sept 2025, 11:30
25m
Invited Talk Physics Research Cross-cutting fields

Speaker

Prof. Ibrahim Cissé (Department of Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics)

Description

We will discuss the latest efforts in our laboratory to develop highly sensitive methods of
microscopy, to go directly inside living cells and uncover the behavior of single biomolecules
as they effect their function in transcription. Transcription is the first step in gene expression
regulation, during which genetic information on DNA is decoded into RNA transcripts.
Methodologically, the so-called live cell single molecule and super-resolution techniques –
that break the optical diffraction limit– are revealing with unprecedented spatial and
temporal resolutions, novel emergent phenomena inside the living cells. We will discuss our
recent discoveries on highly dynamic biomolecular clustering, and phase transitions in vivo.
These discoveries are challenging the ‘textbook view’ on how our genome (DNA) is decoded
in living cells.

Abstract Category Instrumentaions & Detectors

Author

Prof. Ibrahim Cissé (Department of Biological Physics, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics)

Presentation materials