Single Cell Analysis

> Automatisation for high throughput image acquisition. > Systems Biology: cell cycle regulatory network of S. meliloti. Outlook > Monitoring the dynamics of proteins implicated in the control of the bacterial cell cycle in individual cells is possible in PDMS chips in face of typical length scales of only 0.5 to 3 microns. > High cell viability visible in the observed division time of about 200 min close to the doubling time of 3 h in liquid cultures during the exponential growth phase [3] demonstrates the exclusion of any harmful influences. > Our method can be easily adapted for investigation of other cell-cycle related proteins, bacteria and other cells. > Quantitative, statistical and standardised in situ data are required for modelling approaches within systems biology that will allow a better understanding of cell proliferation and differentiation in space and time.