A second priority area (Cluster 2) encompasses a variety of in depth and broad ranging studies to investigate the molecular cell biology of DC in vitro. Cutting-edge advanced microscopic techniques will permit protein-protein interactions at the plasma membrane of DC to be studied in real time (WP4). The signalling pathways of DC that translate messages from membrane molecules into nuclear responses, with subsequent changes in protein expression and cellular function are poorly understood, and will be studied in depth (WP5). Again we anticipate that new targets will be identified that can be targeted in order to manipulate DC, and these will be assessed using in vitro assays of DC function (WP6).