The photo for day 57 of #LMB365 is of the LMB’s openSPIM light sheet microscope. This is run by the LMB’s Light Microscopy Facility and has 4 different laser lines (488 nm and 640 nm pictured), dual sided illumination and temperature control it enables gentle long-term imaging. This microscope is ideal for capturing processes such as salivary gland maturation in Drosophila embryos or brain/kidney organoid development.
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LMB 365 – Day 56
On day 56 of #LMB365 ultraviolet rays from a special lamp shine brightly on frozen samples sitting on a bed of dry ice. In this biochemical experiment, the ultraviolet light induces crosslinks between a protein of interest and other unknown proteins surrounding it. This is being used by Manu Hegde’s group in Cell Biology to study how newly made proteins are guided to the correct location and assembled properly. This experiment is searching for the “guides” that direct this important cellular process.
LMB 365 – Day 55
On day 55 of #LMB365 we bring you brown stained microglia by Jennifer Macdonald from the lab of Michel Goedert @MichelGoed in the Neurobiology Division. Microglia are cells within the brain and spinal cord whose role is to survey their environment and eat up cellular debris or dead neurons. They are incredibly dynamic and respond to changes by adopting different states. This picture is that of a brain in which many clumps or aggregates consisting of a protein named tau, though not made visible here, are present. Some argue the state adopted by microglia plays a crucial role in the outcome of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including tauopathies, diseases in which tau protein forms clumps. Here an array of morphologies can be seen, probably reflecting the various states microglia adopt. Are all these microglia in states harmful to neurons or are some of these in a state that is helping neurons clear or cope with tau aggregates?
LMB 365 – Day 54
The LMB has an excellent Technical Instrumentation Workshop which has expert skills in designing and building various items in different materials. Day 54 of #LMB365 is a 3D printed model of a dengue virus particle made out of polylactic acid for Yorgo Modis @yorgomodis in the Molecular Immunity Unit. It was printed in two halves and put together post print and clearly shows the icosahedral symmetry of the virus. Yorgo is working on how viruses are sensed and silenced by the innate immune system and the model is a useful educational and design tool
LMB 365 – Day 53
Liz Miller’s lab in the Cell Biology Division uses yeast cells to study the fundamental mechanisms of transport between cellular organelles. Electron microscopy is employed to observe how organelle membranes reshape into transporters called vesicles and travel to their destination. This image on day 53 of #LMB365 is a glimpse inside a cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with the nucleus in the middle, endoplasmic reticulum cisternas following the cell contour and through the cytoplasm, some lipid reservoirs called lipid droplets and thousands of ribosomes crowding the cytoplasm while synthesising proteins.
LMB 365 – Day 52
In day 52 of #LMB365 rays of light from the setting sun pierce passing rainclouds to shine brightly on the LMB. This endlessly changing view from a nearby cyclepath inspires many LMBers every morning and evening as they cycle to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus @CamBioCampus