Contact Details
Utrecht University
Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht
Prof. dr. A.S. Akhmanova
0031 (0)30 2532328
Hotel Description
Biology Imaging Center (BIC) at the Science Faculty of Utrecht University provides access, support and training in advanced light and fluorescent microscopy techniques for research groups within the department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University and also to groups from other institutes within and outside Utrecht. Biology Imaging Center incorporates equipment and expertise on different light microscopy techniques, including total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, laser scanning, spinning disk confocal microscopy and 2-photon microscopy. The advanced techniques in which the center currently specializes include multicolor live cell imaging with a high spatial and temporal resolution, 3D live cell imaging of thick samples using spinning disk and 2-photon microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and photoactivation, photoablation, laser microdissection, 2-photon microscopy and photo-uncaging, and super-resolution localized microscopy (PALM/STORM). The center has very strong expertise in mammalian cell biology and cellular neurobiology, with a particular focus on intracellular trafficking, membrane transport and the cytoskeleton.
- Biomedical & health
- Bioimaging
- Advanced microscopy
- Advanced image analysis
- Cellular dynamics
- Cytoskeletal organization
- Membrane trafficking
- Intracellular signalling
- Neuronal development
Expertise and Track Record
At the international level, we have unique expertise in fast multicolour imaging of cytoskeletal (especially microtubule) and vesicle dynamics, and dynamic processes in neuronal cells. At the Dutch level, the combination of single molecule biophysics and strong cellular expertise making it possible to perform analysis of the same molecules in vitro and in vivo is unique. We also have unique expertise in laser microsurgery of cells in application to cytoskeletal and neurobiology research.
1. Project with the Developmental Biology group of the Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Prof. Dr. Sander van den Heuvel. Use of laser microsurgery to study positioning of the mitotic spindle in C.elegans embryo.
Our role: set up laser microsurgery and image analysis in C. elegans one-cell embryo; assist with the experiments and train PhD student from van den Heuvel group in performing imaging and laser microsurgery; participate in analysis of the scientific results obtained.
Result: Publication: F-actin asymmetry and the ER-associated TCC-1 protein contribute to stereotypic spindle movements in the C. elegans embryo. Berends CW, Muñoz J, Portegijs V, Schmidt R, Grigoriev I, Boxem M, Akhmanova A, Heck AJ, van den Heuvel S. Mol Biol Cell. 2013 May 22. PMID:23699393
2. Project with the Hubrecht Institute, dr. Johan de Rooij. Use of laser microsurgery to investigate tension on cell-cell junctions.
Our role: set up laser microsurgery experiments in cultured endothelial cells, assist with the experiments and train postdoc from de Rooij group in performing imaging and laser microsurgery; participate in assessment of the scientific results obtained.
Result: Publication: Vinculin associates with endothelial VE-cadherin junctions to control force-dependent remodeling. Huveneers S, Oldenburg J, Spanjaard E, van der Krogt G, Grigoriev I, Akhmanova A, Rehmann H, de Rooij J. J Cell Biol. 2012 196:641-52. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201108120. PMID:22391038
3. Project with the Department of Biology of University of Copenhagen, the group of Dr. L.B. Pedersen. Use of live cell imaging to study cilia formation
Our role: host and train a Danish Master student for a period of one month to use multicolour spinning disk and TIRF imaging to study vesicle transport to the cilia.
Result: completed Master thesis, publication in preparation.
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- Huveneers S, Oldenburg J, Spanjaard E, van der Krogt G, Grigoriev I, Akhmanova A, Rehmann H, and de Rooij J (2012). Vinculin associates with endothelial VE-cadherin junctions to control force-dependent remodeling. J Cell Biol 196, 641-52.
- Pagano A, Honore S, Mohan R, Berges R, Akhmanova A, and Braguer D (2012). Epothilone B inhibits migration of glioblastoma cells by inducing microtubule catastrophes and affecting EB1 accumulation at microtubule plus ends. Biochem Pharmacol 84, 432-43.
- Berends CW, Munoz J, Portegijs V, Schmidt R, Grigoriev I, Boxem M, Akhmanova A, Heck AJ, and van den Heuvel S (2013). F-actin asymmetry and the endoplasmic reticulum-associated TCC-1 protein contribute to stereotypic spindle movements in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. Mol Biol Cell 24, 2201-15.
- Jeffery JM, Grigoriev I, Poser I, van der Horst A, Hamilton N, Waterhouse N, Bleier J, Subramaniam VN, Maly IV, Akhmanova A, and Khanna KK (2013). Centrobin regulates centrosome function in interphase cells by limiting pericentriolar matrix recruitment. Cell Cycle 12, 899-906
- Molina A, Velot L, Ghouinem L, Abdelkarim M, Bouchet BP, Luissint AC, Bouhlel I, Morel M, Sapharikas E, Di Tommaso A, Honore S, Braguer D, Gruel N, Vincent-Salomon A, Delattre O, Sigal-Zafrani B, Andre F, Terris B, Akhmanova A, Di Benedetto M, Nahmias C, and Rodrigues-Ferreira S (2013). ATIP3, a novel prognostic marker of breast cancer patient survival, limits cancer cell migration and slows metastatic progression by regulating microtubule dynamics. Cancer Res 73, 2905-15.
- Sen I, Veprintsev D, Akhmanova A, and Steinmetz MO (2013). End binding proteins are obligatory dimers. PLoS One 8, e74448.
- Van Battum EY, Gunput RA, Lemstra S, Groen EJ, Yu KL, Adolfs Y, Zhou Y, Hoogenraad CC, Yoshida Y, Schachner M, Akhmanova A, and Pasterkamp RJ (2014). The intracellular redox protein MICAL-1 regulates the development of hippocampal mossy fibre connections. Nat Commun 5, 4317.
The Biology Imaging Center (BIC) is a node in the Netherlands Bioimaging Advanced Microscopy (NL-Bioimaging AM) project that is part of the NWO Netherlands’ Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Facilities;Anna Akhmanova, head of the BIC is one of the main applicants of the Roadmap proposal; In addition, the BIC is in direct contact with the ESFRI project EU-Bioimaging and is exploring the possibilities for becoming one of the nodes in this European infrastructure.
Hotel Characteristics
- 2 dedicated postdocs (1 fte), 1 dedicated technical staff member
15%
- Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope Carl Zeiss LSM 700; Confocal Laser Scanning microscope Zeiss LSM5 Pascal;Two-Photon Microscope Femtonics; Confocal Spinning Disc Roper iLas FRAP/Photoablation System (Spinning Disc 1); Confocal Spinning Disc Roper Nikon System;Confocal Spinning Disc Andor Revolution 500; TIRF Nikon Ti - Roper iLas FRAP/Photoablation system; TIRF Nikon TE2000 - Roper FRAP system; Wide-field Nikon Ti “PEX”-scope; Super-Resolution STORM/PALM home made system; Plasma Cleaner; Upright fluorescence microscope Nikon Eclipse 80i; Upright fluorescence microscope Olympus BX53; Upright fluorescence microscope Olympus AX70;Upright fluorescence microscope Zeiss Axioskop; BioStation Nikon CT; Inverted microscope Nikon TS-100;
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