In this thesis, the focus lies on studying glucocorticoid receptor dynamics in living cells with the aim of understanding how this transcription factor finds its DNA target sites to regulate... Show moreIn this thesis, the focus lies on studying glucocorticoid receptor dynamics in living cells with the aim of understanding how this transcription factor finds its DNA target sites to regulate transcription. We have uncovered several GR dynamics states and obtained insight into how the receptor finds its target, which includes repetitive switching between states. In addition, we have made a quantitative description of the static distribution of this transcription factor in the nucleus and compared this to a homologous transcription factor, the estrogen receptor. We have advanced the experimental techniques used to answer this question through development of novel analysis tools. These include a method to correct analytically for observation bias of different diffusion modes in a two dimensional plane. Furthermore, we have investigate the use of an alternative labeling method, namely the gold nanorod. To this end, the behavior and functionalization of gold nanorods was characterized in live cells. Show less
In this thesis I aimed to explore further finesses in the cellular dynamics of the two corticosteroid receptors, the MR and the GR, in both their membrane-associated and their nuclear... Show moreIn this thesis I aimed to explore further finesses in the cellular dynamics of the two corticosteroid receptors, the MR and the GR, in both their membrane-associated and their nuclear subpopulations. Amongst others I quantified the dynamics of the receptors at the membrane (only MR) and at the chromatin Show less
