Quantifying the lipid-protein interplay using advanced light microscopy

Lipids influence protein function in many ways: they may foster (or hinder) protein-protein interactions transiently recruiting proteins to specific sites in the cell or triggering conformational changes upon binding. Besides, lipid organisation around proteins may prevent proper protein function. In this talk I will present my latest work on the quantitative description of lipid-mediated protein behaviour and functional membrane organisation using time-resolved microspectroscopy methodologies such as FCS (Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy), FLIM (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging) and time-resolved generalised polarisation.