Achievement

Research into cellular cargo transport, conducted by Pamela Langner, is particularly challenging. Use of nano-sized fluorescent particles has made it possible to visualize this process within cells. These nanospheres can be engineered to display a unique and uniform surface, such that study of individual potential receptors for motor machinery can be evaluated. Use of these particles has led to the description of competition between receptors for motor machinery. More recently, use of these particles has led to the observation and description of a "tug-of-war" between motors on one individual cargo. This is the first time this process has been observed in live cells.