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architectural dynamics

lab image
Laboratory of Rudolf Oldenbourg

Research Staff: Brigitte de Saint Phalle, Grant B. Harris

Administrative Staff: Jane L. MacNeil

Contact: Tel: 508-289-7426 | E-mail: rudolfo@mbl.edu | Fax: 508-540-6902

Address: Lillie Building, Room 110
Our research is inspired by new opportunities for developing optical methodologies to study the architectural dynamics in living cells. We are currently developing a new type of polarized light microscope, the Pol-Scope, that allows us to visualize molecular order directly in living cells with unprecedented sensitivity, resolution and speed. Based on polarization measurements, we gain insight into submicroscopic structural parameters and non-invasively create contrast where structures are otherwise invisible. We seek interdisciplinary collaborations to conduct research in physical optics for the interpretation of image content and of computational methods for image enhancement and restoration. These physical and engineering projects are stimulated and guided by biological inquiries into the structural basis of cell function.

Senior Scientist Rudolf Oldenbourg

Rudolf Oldenbourg Education:

1981   Ph.D. Physics, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
   
1976   Diplomphysiker, Technical University, Munich, Germany


Selected Publications:

LaFountain, J. R., Jr. and R. Oldenbourg.  2004.  Maloriented bivalents have metaphase positions at the spindle equator with more kinetochore microtubules to one pole than to the other.  Mol. Biol. Cell 15: 5346-5355.

Shribak, M. and R. Oldenbourg.  2004.  Mapping polymer birefringence in three dimensions using a polarizing microscope with oblique illumination.  In Biophotonics Micro- and Nano-Imaging, D. Anselmetti, Ed.  Strasbourg, France, Proceedings of SPIE 5462: 57-67.

Oldenbourg, R.  2004.  Polarization microscopy with the LC-PolScope. In Live Cell Imaging: A Laboratory Manual, D. L. Spector and R. D. Goldman, Eds.  Cold Spring Harbor, NY, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pp. 205-237.

Shribak, M. and R. Oldenbourg. 2003. Techniques for fast and sensitive measurements of two-dimensional birefringence distributions. Appl. Opt. 42: 3009-3017.

Shribak, M. I. and R. Oldenbourg. 2002. Scanning aperture polarized light microscope: Observation of small calcite crystals using oblique illumination. In Three-Dimensional and Multidimensional Microscopy: Image Acquisition and Processing IX, J.-A. Conchello, C. J. Cogswell and T. Wilson, Eds. San Jose, Proceedings of SPIE 4621: 104-109.

M. Shribak, S. Inoué and R. Oldenbourg. 2002. Polarization aberrations caused by differential transmission and phase shift in high NA lenses: theory, measurement and rectification. Opt. Eng. 41:
943-954.

Wang, W.H., L. Meng, R.J. Hackett, R. Oldenbourg, and D.L. Keefe. 2002. Rigorous thermal control during intracytoplasmic sperm injection stabilizes the meiotic spindle and improves fertilization and pregnancy rates. Fertil. Steril. 77: 1274-1277.

Shribak, M., and R. Oldenbourg. 2002. Sensitive measurements of two-dimensional birefringence distributions using near-circularly polarized beam. In: Polarization Analysis, Measurement, and Remote Sensing V, Seattle, Proceedings of SPIE 4819: 56-67.

J. R. LaFountain Jr., R. Oldenbourg, R. W. Cole and C. L. Rieder. 2001. Microtubule Flux Mediates Poleward Motion of Acentric Chromosome Fragments During Meiosis in Insect Spermatocytes. Mol. Biol. Cell 12: 4054-4065.

L. Liu, R. Oldenbourg, J. R. Trimarchi and D. L. Keefe. 2000. A reliable, noninvasive technique for spindle imaging and enucleation of mammalian oocytes. Nat. Biotechnol. 18: 223-225.

G. Danuser and R. Oldenbourg. 2000. Probing f-actin flow by tracking shape fluctuations of radial bundles in lamellipodia of motile cells. Biophys. J. 79: 191-201.

R. Oldenbourg. 1999. Polarized light microscopy of spindles. Methods in Cell Biology; Mitosis and Meiosis. C. L. Rieder, Ed. San Diego, Academic Press. 61: 175-208.

K. Katoh, K. Hammar, P. J. S. Smith and R. Oldenbourg. 1999. Birefringence imaging directly reveals architectural dynamics of filamentous actin in living growth cones. Mol. Biol. Cell 10: 197-210.

R. Oldenbourg, E. D. Salmon and P. T. Tran. 1998. Birefringence of single and bundled microtubules. Biophys. J. 74: 645-654.

R. Oldenbourg, R. 1996. A new view on polarization microscopy. Nature 381: 811-812.

R. Oldenbourg and G. Mei. 1996. Polarized Light Microscopy, US Patent, Number 5,521,705.

R. Oldenbourg and G. Mei. 1995. New polarized light microscope with precision universal compensator. J. Microsc. 180: 140-147.