FIP Seminar: Single-particle-level understanding and control of photophysics in biomolecules

By examining molecules one at a time, single-molecule techniques capture rare and asynchronous events, revealing rich mechanistic detail that complements and deepens our understanding from bulk experiments. The Squires Group at the University of Chicago specializes in creating and using new spectroscopic "windows and handles"; experimental platforms that expand our ability to directly observe and perturb single molecules. Our unique toolset enables us to record, understand, and control complex, dynamic energy transfer patterns in both natural and engineered macromolecular systems. I will present our latest updates to our single-particle spectroscopy platform, the Anti-Brownian ELectrokinetic (ABEL) trap, and highlight two recent applications to (1) understand the Orange Caroteinoid Protein (OCP)-based photoadaptation response in cyanobacteria undergoing photosynthesis, and (2) to rationally design dozens of compound fluorescent labels from a minimal set of building blocks to enable wash-free labeling and detection of dozens of molecular species in low-concentration mixtures.te the suitability of these devices for improving Raman spectroscopy for real-world applications.

Prof. Allison Squires is the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. The Squires Group's interdisciplinary research centers on sensing, imaging, and manipulating nanoscale processes including energy transfer in biophysical systems. Squires holds a BSE in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Princeton University and received her PhD in biomedical engineering as an NSF and Clare Boothe Luce Fellow at Boston University, where she worked on solid-state nanopores as single-biomolecule sensors. Prior to opening her lab at the University of Chicago, Prof. Squires completed post-doctoral training in the Chemistry Department at Stanford University, where she pioneered the ISABEL trap, a new platform for trapping and spectroscopy of single particles and protein complexes in free solution. Squires is a Chan-Zuckerberg Investigator and a DOE Early Career Investigator. Web: https://squireslab.uchicago.edu/