Research Internship & Master Thesis Topics

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Influence of ionophores on the uptake of lanthanides in tobacco BY-2 cells.

Ionophores are molecules that can complex certain ions and transport them across a cell membrane against an electrical potential difference or concentration gradient. Using calcimycin, an ionophore specific for Ca(II) ions, this work aims to investigate the influence of ionophores on the bioassociation of lanthanides in undifferentiated plant cells. Eu(III) is particularly suitable for biochemical experiments and complexation studies in this context, as it has a similar ionic radius to Ca(II), which is important for signal transduction, as well as interesting luminescent properties. A major component of the studies are time- and concentration-dependent bioassociation experiments of the heavy metal on suspended tobacco BY-2 cells in the presence and absence of ionophores. The characterization and localization of the bioassociated Eu is performed using various microscopic, biochemical and spectroscopic methods such as time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and Raman microspectroscopy. Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) can be used to obtain additional insights into the complexation behavior of Eu in the cells under consideration and the surrounding medium.

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