Next Generation Fluorescent Tools for Measuring Autophagy Dynamics in Cells

该项目旨在创建新的分子工具，用于检测称为自噬的关键细胞存活过程。具体来说，该项目将首次开发特异于自噬的小分子荧光探针，通过与关键的自噬标记蛋白或货物相互作用。这将使研究人员能够可视化和量化活细胞中的自噬活动，而不会破坏系统，这是目前不可能的。该项目代表了一项重大的技术和知识进步，将提高我们对基础生物学中自噬的理解，并最终有助于开发神经退行性疾病和癌症等疾病的新干预策略。

This project aims to create new molecular tools for detecting a crucial cell survival process called autophagy. Specifically, this project will develop small molecule fluorescent probes that are specific to autophagy, for the first time, by interacting with the key autophagy marker proteins or cargos. This will allow researchers to visualise and quantify autophagy activity in living cells without disrupting the system, which is not currently possible. This project represents a major technical and knowledge advance that will improve our understanding of autophagy in fundamental biology and ultimately contribute to the development of new intervention strategies for diseases like neurodegeneration and cancers.