BGU Physics Department

Colloquium, Dec. 20th, 2012


The bacterial chemosensory cluster: dynamics and function 

Ady Vaknin, Hebrew University

Living cells use dedicated molecular relies, known as sensory receptors, to convert external cues into internal biochemical signals. In several model systems, associations between sensors and their clustering are thought to play an essential role in their function. A notable example is the bacterial chemoreceptors, which control the swimming behavior of bacterial cells along chemical gradients. Using fluorescence-based techniques we study the biophysical and signaling properties of these sensors in real time and in living cells. In this talk, I will discuss possible advantages of receptor clusters formation and their dynamic properties.