Scanning fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in model membrane systems

Quantification of the Interactions Between BCL-2 Proteins by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

The proteins of the Bcl-2 family regulate apoptosis by forming a complex interaction network whose output determines whether mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization is executed. Quantification of complex formation between Bcl-2 proteins in solution and in membranes is therefore key to understand how the hierarchy of interactions controls cell death induction. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a noninvasive, nondestructive method to investigate the mobility and the association of fluorescently labeled biomolecules that has provided useful insight into the binding affinity of the Bcl-2 interactome. FCS is based on the detection of fluorescence fluctuations caused by the diffusion of individual molecules through a very tiny observation volume of the detection system. Scanning FCS (SFCS) solves some of the practical challenges of acquiring FCS in membranes and expands the application scope of the method. In this chapter, we explain the principle of FCS and describe protocols how it can be used to quantify interactions between Bcl-2 proteins in solution and in model membrane systems.

Early activation of CD95 is limited and localized to the cytotoxic synapse

The cytotoxic synapse formed between cytotoxic T lymphocytes or natural killer cells expressing CD95L and target cells with CD95 on their surface is a key pathway for apoptosis induction by the immune system. Despite similarities with the immune synapse in antigen presenting cells, little is known about the role of the spatiotemporal organization of agonistic proteins/receptor interactions for CD95 signaling. Here, we have developed an artificial cytotoxic synapse to examine how mobility and geometry of an anti-CD95 agonistic antibody affect receptor aggregation and mobility, ie the first step of receptor activation. By measuring the distribution, diffusion coefficient, and fraction of immobile CD95 receptor in living cells, we show that at short times, the initial activation of CD95 occurs locally and is limited to the contact region of the cytotoxic synapse. This anisotropic activation of apoptotic signaling supports a role for confined interactions on the efficiency of signal transduction that may have implications for biomedical applications of extrinsic apoptosis induction.