Physics Colloquium: Kathrin Spendier
Join us for the first colloquium of the spring semester with Dr. Kathrin Spendier, Quantum Evangelist at Quantinuum, a leading full-stack quantum computing company.
Abstract
Insights into RBL-2H3 Mast Cell Membrane Curvature and Immunological Synapse Dynamics: A Multidisciplinary Approach
The RBL-2H3 mast cell signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the study of inflammatory and allergic responses. RBL-2H3 mast cells can signal through an immunological synapse that forms upon the receptor's contact with antigens. Within this synapse, receptors activated by binding typically cluster across the cell surface and eventually aggregate into a central patch known as the synapse. This process, wherein activated receptors cluster and undergo synapse formation, is meticulously examined using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy with polarized excitation. It is further explored through mathematical modeling using reaction–diffusion and Fokker–Planck equations. This method sheds light on the temporal and spatial dynamics of mast cell activation, emphasizing the importance of receptor dynamics, membrane curvature, and cytoskeletal rearrangements in the response mechanism of RBL-2H3 mast cells.
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