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solimena group

Bernard Mulligan

Statistical analysis and mathematical modelling of granule ageing

 
Insulin is stored within the secretory granules of pancreatic beta cells and within each cell there is typically of the order of 10,000 such granules. My project involves studying the secretory granule motion and behaviour, which has been shown to differ in both type and quantity according to granule age. In order to do this we apply various light microscopy techniques, but mainly total internal reflection microscopy (TIRFM). It allows for the real-time monitoring of granule motion at the plasma membrane of the beta cell. The data obtained from such experiments is complex and its analysis includes calculation of average size of a granule, mean-square displacement and fluorescence intensity, to name, but just a few. This is accomplished using customised advanced motion tracking software and it is also my aim to mathematically model the ageing of insulin secretory granules. The latter stems from recent work showing that younger granules move faster than older ones thus further validating the concept that ageing of granules is a key factor influencing insulin secretion.

Contact details:

bernard.mulligan {at} mailbox.tu-dresden.de
+49 (0)3 51 79 63 66 12