We invent novel optical probes–luminescent nanocrystals and organic fluorophores–as biosensors and single-molecule probes, develop bioconjugation and targeting chemistries, and image live cells with these reagents. We aim to use interesting and unusual new luminescent nanomaterials to address fundamental questions of cell function.
We’re based at the Molecular Foundry at Berkeley Lab.
Lock Coupling is just up online at J. Am. Chem. Soc.! Our new method to selectively conjugate protein-protein complexes with a simple 1-step, 1-reagent reaction. There’s lots to do with Lock chemistry, and we start with selective antibody labeling on fully native IgGs — we attach fluorophores and nanoparticles with exact precision without any IgG mutations or synthetic agents. Great job, Yazhi, Isha, and all of our UCSF collaborators!
Also check out our new avalanching nanoparticles papers in Nature Photonics and Nature about intrinsic optical bistability and force sensing.
