Ebook: Modern Optics, Electronics and High Precision Techniques in Cell Biology

In spite of tremendous scientific progress over the past years, cell biologists do not yet understand the fundamental processes that determine the life cy­ cle of a cell. Such are: cell movement and cell spreading, cell division, cell communication, cell signaling, cell regeneration and cell death. Biochemistry has enabled us to recognize and to isolate an overwhelming number of new proteins. In vitro assays and the reinjection of proteins into cells and tissues have provided insights into molecular functions and cellular mechanisms. The renaissance of the genetic approach by applying restriction enzymes and vectors, PCR and antisense technology has enabled us to overexpress certain cellular products, to make altered constructs of cell components or to create "knock-out" mutants that entirely lack the factor of interest. Amazingly en­ ough, all these molecular toys have led to a stream of information but not, in a comparable degree, to a better understanding. Has the puzzle become too complex to get solved; or are the windows too small that we are looking through? As an attempt to answer both questions, the aim of the present mono­ graph Modern Optics, Electronics and High Precision Techniques in Cell Biol­ ogy is first to provide cell and molecular biologists with a whole new scope of easily applicable techniques including brand-new optical, biophysical, physicochemical and biosensoric devices. Secondly, these newly developed techniques allow us to look at cells and biological systems as a whole.

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The techniques described in this book provide an alternative method to understanding cellular biological structures and processes. Molecular genetic methods mainly analyse single molecules or very small cellular parts, which does not necessarily enhance our understanding of the fundamental cellular processes. However, using techniques such as atomic force or infrared microscopy, neutron reflection, stopped-flow cytometry, laser microscopy, or biosensoric-based electronics, it is possible to study cells and biological systems in their entirety. Physiological processes of cells, such as movement, development, plasticity, regeneration and communication, can be visualized using the high precision biophysical techniques described here.

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The techniques described in this book provide an alternative method to understanding cellular biological structures and processes. Molecular genetic methods mainly analyse single molecules or very small cellular parts, which does not necessarily enhance our understanding of the fundamental cellular processes. However, using techniques such as atomic force or infrared microscopy, neutron reflection, stopped-flow cytometry, laser microscopy, or biosensoric-based electronics, it is possible to study cells and biological systems in their entirety. Physiological processes of cells, such as movement, development, plasticity, regeneration and communication, can be visualized using the high precision biophysical techniques described here.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VIII
Atomic Force Microscopy Provides Molecular Details of Cell Surfaces....Pages 1-31
Basic Principles and Applications of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy....Pages 33-53
Visualization of Neuronal Form and Function in Brain Slices by Infrared Videomicroscopy....Pages 55-73
Time-Resolved Imaging of Membrane Potentials and Cytoplasmic Ions at the Cellular Level with a 50x50 Fiber Array Photodiode Camera....Pages 75-87
Micromanipulation of Macromolecules: How to Measure the Stiffness of Single Microtubules....Pages 89-99
Dynamics of Single Protein Polymers Visualized by Fluorescence Microscopy....Pages 101-138
The Interaction of Proteins with Membrane Surfaces at Molecular Resolution: The Neutron Reflection Method....Pages 139-157
The Study of Fast Reactions by the Stopped Flow Method....Pages 159-171
Biomolecular-Interaction Analysis (BIA-Technology)....Pages 173-194
Measuring Cellular Traction Forces with Micromachined Substrates....Pages 195-210
Viscoelasticity, Rheology and Molecular Conformational Dynamics of Entangled and Cross-Linked Actin Networks....Pages 211-257
Back Matter....Pages 259-261

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The techniques described in this book provide an alternative method to understanding cellular biological structures and processes. Molecular genetic methods mainly analyse single molecules or very small cellular parts, which does not necessarily enhance our understanding of the fundamental cellular processes. However, using techniques such as atomic force or infrared microscopy, neutron reflection, stopped-flow cytometry, laser microscopy, or biosensoric-based electronics, it is possible to study cells and biological systems in their entirety. Physiological processes of cells, such as movement, development, plasticity, regeneration and communication, can be visualized using the high precision biophysical techniques described here.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VIII
Atomic Force Microscopy Provides Molecular Details of Cell Surfaces....Pages 1-31
Basic Principles and Applications of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy....Pages 33-53
Visualization of Neuronal Form and Function in Brain Slices by Infrared Videomicroscopy....Pages 55-73
Time-Resolved Imaging of Membrane Potentials and Cytoplasmic Ions at the Cellular Level with a 50x50 Fiber Array Photodiode Camera....Pages 75-87
Micromanipulation of Macromolecules: How to Measure the Stiffness of Single Microtubules....Pages 89-99
Dynamics of Single Protein Polymers Visualized by Fluorescence Microscopy....Pages 101-138
The Interaction of Proteins with Membrane Surfaces at Molecular Resolution: The Neutron Reflection Method....Pages 139-157
The Study of Fast Reactions by the Stopped Flow Method....Pages 159-171
Biomolecular-Interaction Analysis (BIA-Technology)....Pages 173-194
Measuring Cellular Traction Forces with Micromachined Substrates....Pages 195-210
Viscoelasticity, Rheology and Molecular Conformational Dynamics of Entangled and Cross-Linked Actin Networks....Pages 211-257
Back Matter....Pages 259-261
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