Figure 1( left) and 2( right): Dual-color labeling of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis( EAE) tissue( the mouse model of MS). Neurons are labelled in green, with axons in the white matter and their bodies in the grey matter. Nuclei of immune cells in inflammatory EAE lesions are shown in magenta. Figure 1( left) is a cross-section, figure 2( right) is a magnified longitudinal section.
microscopy, a special type of fluorescence microscopy capable of resolving biological structures with nanometer resolution. This was previously only possible with electron microscopy. Our super-resolution microscope allows us to observe single molecules that may induce or affect axonal injury, but it requires sophisticated methods for protein labeling. We therefore exploit protein engineering tools, based on labeling genetic code expansions. The genetic code of host cells is expanded and altered in a way that it incorporates designed building blocks, so called non-canonical amino acids. These amino acids are very small, but almost identical to their naturally-occuring brothers, the canonical amino acids. Their special‘ feature’ is a chemical group that can be used for fluorescent labeling of proteins in living cells. In that way we get the smallest possible labeling tag which is crucial for super-resolution microscopy.
Why did you decide to come to Tübingen?
The CIN offered me the opportunity to set up my own laboratory. Keeping in mind Tübingen’ s scientific reputation, especially in the neuroscience field, it was an excellent opportunity for me. Furthermore, it is important to me that good students are attracted to the city as well such as Tübingen’ s Neuroscience Graduate Training Centre. I also liked Tübingen as a city upon visiting and being home to the annual chocolate festival of course made Tübingen even more attractive!
Future perspective: What are your ideals for the future and what do you hope to achieve in Tübingen?
In Tübingen, I can finally tackle some of the open questions from my PhD work. I made the observation that a small population of axons can sponta-
neously recover, while others degenerate. I am happy that I can approach this differential axon recovery from a molecular perspective and I hope to further solve the puzzle of axonal deand regeneration with insights from live super-resolution imaging.
Stefanie Schuster is a PhD candidate in the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research in the Clinical Neurogenetics lab of Prof. Dr. Ludger Schöls in Tübingen, Germany.
10 | NEUROMAG | November 2017
The Neuromag is excited to announce that we are now ranked as one of the Top 100 Neuroscience Blogs on the web! Feedspot has added us to their list and we aim to climb all the way to number one!!! For that we need your help. If you are interested in writing an article or getting involved in the Neuromag then please send us an email at contact @ neuromag. net
A big thank you to all those who have already helped make the Neuromag what it is. This achievement belongs to all of us!