Temporally resolved interactions between antigen-stimulated IgE receptors and Lyn kinase on living cells

The Utility of Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP) to Study the Plasma Membrane

The plasma membrane of mammalian cells is involved in a wide variety of cellular processes, including, but not limited to, endocytosis and exocytosis, adhesion and migration, and signaling. The regulation of these processes requires the plasma membrane to be highly organized and dynamic. Much of the plasma membrane organization exists at temporal and spatial scales that cannot be directly observed with fluorescence microscopy. Therefore, approaches that report on the membrane's physical parameters must often be utilized to infer membrane organization. As discussed here, diffusion measurements are one such approach that has allowed researchers to understand the subresolution organization of the plasma membrane. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (or FRAP) is the most widely accessible method for measuring diffusion in a living cell and has proven to be a powerful tool in cell biology research. Here, we discuss the theoretical underpinnings that allow diffusion measurements to be used in elucidating the organization of the plasma membrane. We also discuss the basic FRAP methodology and the mathematical approaches for deriving quantitative measurements from FRAP recovery curves. FRAP is one of many methods used to measure diffusion in live cell membranes; thus, we compare FRAP with two other popular methods: fluorescence correlation microscopy and single-particle tracking. Lastly, we discuss various plasma membrane organization models developed and tested using diffusion measurements.

Recent advances in nanotechnology approaches for non-viral gene therapy

Gene therapy has shown great potential in the treatment of many diseases by downregulating the expression of certain genes. The development of gene vectors as a vehicle for gene therapy has greatly facilitated the widespread clinical application of nucleic acid materials (DNA, mRNA, siRNA, and miRNA). Currently, both viral and non-viral vectors are used as delivery systems of nucleic acid materials for gene therapy. However, viral vector-based gene therapy has several limitations, including immunogenicity and carcinogenesis caused by the exogenous viral vectors. To address these issues, non-viral nanocarrier-based gene therapy has been explored for superior performance with enhanced gene stability, high treatment efficiency, improved tumor-targeting, and better biocompatibility. In this review, we discuss various non-viral vector-mediated gene therapy approaches using multifunctional biodegradable or non-biodegradable nanocarriers, including polymer-based nanoparticles, lipid-based nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), quantum dots (QDs), silica nanoparticles, metal-based nanoparticles and two-dimensional nanocarriers. Various strategies to construct non-viral nanocarriers based on their delivery efficiency of targeted genes will be introduced. Subsequently, we discuss the cellular uptake pathways of non-viral nanocarriers. In addition, multifunctional gene therapy based on non-viral nanocarriers is summarized, in which the gene therapy can be combined with other treatments, such as photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), immunotherapy and chemotherapy. We also provide a comprehensive discussion of the biological toxicity and safety of non-viral vector-based gene therapy. Finally, the present limitations and challenges of non-viral nanocarriers for gene therapy in future clinical research are discussed, to promote wider clinical applications of non-viral vector-based gene therapy.

Alpha-linolenic acid inhibits IgE-mediated anaphylaxis by inhibiting Lyn kinase and suppressing mast cell activation

Excessive reactions to allergens can induce systemic, life-threatening physiological dysfunction (anaphylaxis) in humans. The surface of mast cells expresses high-affinity IgE receptors that play a vital role during anaphylaxis. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential non-toxic fatty acid in humans. Since it has been reported having potential to regulate pro-inflammatory reactions, we postulated that ALA could inhibit anaphylaxis by down-regulating Lyn kinase phosphorylation. We found that local and systematic inflammation induced by albumin from chicken egg white (OVA) were attenuated by ALA in vivo. Furthermore, ALA inhibited IgE-mediated Ca²⁺ mobilization, degranulation, and cytokine release in Laboratory of Allergic Disease 2 (LAD2) cells. The western blot results showed that ALA down-regulate the FcεRI/Lyn/Syk signaling pathway by suppressing Lyn kinase activity. Therefore, ALA could serve as a therapeutic drug candidate for preventing IgE-mediated anaphylaxis.

Lipid-based and protein-based interactions synergize transmembrane signaling stimulated by antigen clustering of IgE receptors

Antigen (Ag) crosslinking of immunoglobulin E-receptor (IgE-FcεRI) complexes in mast cells stimulates transmembrane (TM) signaling, requiring phosphorylation of the clustered FcεRI by lipid-anchored Lyn tyrosine kinase. Previous studies showed that this stimulated coupling between Lyn and FcεRI occurs in liquid ordered (Lo)-like nanodomains of the plasma membrane and that Lyn binds directly to cytosolic segments of FcεRI that it initially phosphorylates for amplified activity. Net phosphorylation above a nonfunctional threshold is achieved in the stimulated state but not in the resting state, and current evidence supports the hypothesis that this relies on Ag crosslinking to disrupt a balance between Lyn and tyrosine phosphatase activities. However, the structural interactions that underlie the stimulation process remain poorly defined. This study evaluates the relative contributions and functional importance of different types of interactions leading to suprathreshold phosphorylation of Ag-crosslinked IgE-FcεRI in live rat basophilic leukemia mast cells. Our high-precision diffusion measurements by imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy on multiple structural variants of Lyn and other lipid-anchored probes confirm subtle, stimulated stabilization of the Lo-like nanodomains in the membrane inner leaflet and concomitant sharpening of segregation from liquid disordered (Ld)-like regions. With other structural variants, we determine that lipid-based interactions are essential for access by Lyn, leading to phosphorylation of and protein-based binding to clustered FcεRI. By contrast, TM tyrosine phosphatase, PTPα, is excluded from these regions due to its Ld-preference and steric exclusion of TM segments. Overall, we establish a synergy of lipid-based, protein-based, and steric interactions underlying functional TM signaling in mast cells.

Delivery Systems for Nucleic Acids and Proteins: Barriers, Cell Capture Pathways and Nanocarriers

Gene therapy has been used as a potential approach to address the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases and inherited disorders. In this line, non-viral systems have been exploited as promising alternatives for delivering therapeutic transgenes and proteins. In this review, we explored how biological barriers are effectively overcome by non-viral systems, usually nanoparticles, to reach an efficient delivery of cargoes. Furthermore, this review contributes to the understanding of several mechanisms of cellular internalization taken by nanoparticles. Because a critical factor for nanoparticles to do this relies on the ability to escape endosomes, researchers have dedicated much effort to address this issue using different nanocarriers. Here, we present an overview of the diversity of nanovehicles explored to reach an efficient and effective delivery of both nucleic acids and proteins. Finally, we introduced recent advances in the development of successful strategies to deliver cargoes.

Imaging FCS delineates subtle heterogeneity in plasma membranes of resting mast cells

A myriad of transient, nanoscopic lipid- and protein-based interactions confer a steady-state organization of the plasma membrane in resting cells that is poised to orchestrate assembly of key signaling components upon reception of an extracellular stimulus. Although difficult to observe directly in live cells, these subtle interactions can be discerned by their impact on the diffusion of membrane constituents. Here, we quantified the diffusion properties of a panel of structurally distinct lipid, lipid-anchored, and transmembrane (TM) probes in RBL mast cells by imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (ImFCS). We developed a statistical analysis of data combined from many pixels over multiple cells to characterize differences in diffusion coefficients as small as 10%, which reflect differences in underlying interactions. We found that the distinctive diffusion properties of lipid probes can be explained by their dynamic partitioning into Lo-like proteolipid nanodomains, which encompass a major fraction of the membrane and whose physical properties are influenced by actin polymerization. Effects on diffusion of functional protein modules in both lipid-­anchored and TM probes reflect additional complexity in steady state membrane organization. The contrast we observe between different probes diffusing through the same membrane milieu represents the dynamic resting steady state, which serves as a baseline for monitoring plasma membrane remodeling that occurs upon stimulation.

Self-assembly of poly(allylamine)/siRNA nanoparticles, their intracellular fate and siRNA delivery

Silencing RNA (siRNA) technologies attract significant interest as a therapeutic tool for a large number of diseases. However, the medical translation of this technology is hampered by the lack of effective delivery vehicles for siRNAs in cytosol that prevent their degradation in the bloodstream. The use of molecular complexes based on polyamines have great potential for siRNA delivery as polyamines can protect the siRNA during circulation and at the same time favor siRNA translocation in cytosol. Here, nanoparticles are prepared by complexation of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and siRNA varying the ratio of nitrogen groups from PAH to phosphate groups from siRNA (N/P ratio). Nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The stability of complexes of green rhodamine labelled PAH (G-PAH) and Cy5 labelled siRNA (R-siRNA) at different pHs and in cell media is studied by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS). FCCS studies show that the nanoparticles are stable at physiological pH and in cell media but they disassemble at acidic pH. An optimal N/P ratio of 2 is identified in terms of stability in media, degradation at endosomal pH and toxicity. The intracellular fate of the complexes is studied following uptake in A549 cells. The cross-correlation between G-PAH and R-siRNA decreases substantially 24 h after uptake, while diffusion times of siRNA decrease indicating that the complexes disassemble, liberating the siRNAs. The release of siRNAs into the cytosol is confirmed with parallel confocal laser scanning microscopy. Flow cytometry studies show that PAH/siRNA nanoparticles are effective at silencing green fluorescent protein expression at low N/P ratios at which polyethylenimine/siRNA shows no significant silencing.

Impact of ConcanavalinA affinity in the intracellular fate of Protein Corona on Glucosamine Au nanoparticles

Biological fate and toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) are connected to the interaction between NPs and the protein corona (PC) spontaneously forming around NPs in biological matrixes. PC is a dynamic entity that confers biological identity to NPs. In this work, fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) is used to study the impact of specific interactions between the NP surface and proteins on the intracellular fate of PC. The stability of the PC formed around glucosamide-functionalized Au-NPs from ConcanavalinA (ConA) or Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) is characterized by FCCS. The NPs show higher affinity for ConA and competitive assays show that ConA easily exchanges BSA. A549 cells are exposed to glucosamide-functionalized Au-NPs with preformed ConA and BSA PCs. Intracellularly the frequency of cross-correlation for Au NPs with ConA PC remains constant to a 70% value until 24 h while for BSA it decreases to a 15% during the same period. FCCS measurements in several locations in the cell point out a different level of aggregation for the NPs with either ConA or BSA PCs. Our results show that the affinity of NPs functionalized with a ligand with affinity for a specific protein in bulk is retained intracellularly influencing NP fate and translocation.

The FcεRI Signaling Cascade and Integrin Trafficking Converge at Patterned Ligand Surfaces

We examined the spatial targeting of early and downstream signaling mediated by the IgE receptor (FcεRI) in RBL mast cells utilizing surface-patterned 2,4 dinitrophenyl (DNP) ligands. Micron-sized features of DNP are presented as densely immobilized conjugates of bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) or mobile in a supported lipid bilayer (DNP-SLB). Although soluble anti-DNP IgE binds uniformly across features for both pattern types, IgE bound to FcεRI on cells shows distinctive distributions: uniform for DNP-SLB and edge-concentrated for DNP-BSA. These distributions of IgE-FcεRI propagate to the spatial recruitment of early signaling proteins, including spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), linker for activation of T cells (LAT), and activated phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCγ1), which all localize with engaged receptors. We found stimulated polymerization of F-actin is not required for Syk recruitment but is progressively involved in the recruitment of LAT and PLCγ1. We further found β1- and β3-integrins colocalize with IgE-FcεRI at patterned ligand surfaces as cells spread. This recruitment corresponds to directed exocytosis of recycling endosomes (REs) containing these integrins and their fibronectin ligand. Together, our results show targeting of signaling components, including integrins, to regions of clustered IgE-FcεRI in processes that depend on stimulated actin polymerization and outward trafficking of REs.

Measuring Protein Binding to Lipid Vesicles by Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy has been previously used to investigate peptide and protein binding to lipid membranes, as it allows for very low amounts of sample, short measurement times and equilibrium binding conditions. Labeling only one of the binding partners, however, comes with certain drawbacks, as it relies on identifying binding events by a change in diffusion coefficient. Since peptide and protein aggregation can obscure specific binding, and since non-stoichiometric binding necessitates the explicit choice of a statistical distribution for the number of bound ligands, we additionally label the liposomes and perform dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (dcFCCS). We develop a theoretical framework showing that dcFCCS amplitudes allow calculation of the degree of ligand binding and the concentration of unbound ligand, leading to a model-independent binding curve. As the degree of labeling of the ligands does not factor into the measured quantities, it is permissible to mix labeled and unlabeled ligand, thereby extending the range of usable protein concentrations and accessible dissociation constants, K_D. The total protein concentration, but not the fraction of labeled protein, needs to be known. In this work, we apply our dcFCCS analysis scheme to Sar1p, a protein of the COPII complex, which binds "major-minor-mix" liposomes. A Langmuir isotherm model yields K_D=(2.1±1.1)μM as the single-site dissociation constant. The dcFCCS framework presented here is highly versatile for biophysical analysis of binding interactions. It may be applied to many types of fluorescently labeled ligands and small diffusing particles, including nanodiscs and liposomes containing membrane protein receptors.

Super-Resolution Microscopy: Shedding Light on the Cellular Plasma Membrane

Lipids and the membranes they form are fundamental building blocks of cellular life, and their geometry and chemical properties distinguish membranes from other cellular environments. Collective processes occurring within membranes strongly impact cellular behavior and biochemistry, and understanding these processes presents unique challenges due to the often complex and myriad interactions between membrane components. Super-resolution microscopy offers a significant gain in resolution over traditional optical microscopy, enabling the localization of individual molecules even in densely labeled samples and in cellular and tissue environments. These microscopy techniques have been used to examine the organization and dynamics of plasma membrane components, providing insight into the fundamental interactions that determine membrane functions. Here, we broadly introduce the structure and organization of the mammalian plasma membrane and review recent applications of super-resolution microscopy to the study of membranes. We then highlight some inherent challenges faced when using super-resolution microscopy to study membranes, and we discuss recent technical advancements that promise further improvements to super-resolution microscopy and its application to the plasma membrane.

Functional nanoscale coupling of Lyn kinase with IgE-FcεRI is restricted by the actin cytoskeleton in early antigen-stimulated signaling

Spatial targeting of signaling components to activated receptors on the plasma membrane is key for initiating signal transduction. The actin cytoskeleton restricts antigen-stimulated colocalization of IgE-FcεRI with membrane-anchored signaling partner Lyn kinase, and this regulation is mediated by organization of plasma membrane lipids.

The allergic response is initiated on the plasma membrane of mast cells by phosphorylation of the receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE), FcεRI, by Lyn kinase after IgE-FcεRI complexes are cross-linked by multivalent antigen. Signal transduction requires reorganization of receptors and membrane signaling proteins, but this spatial regulation is not well defined. We used fluorescence localization microscopy (FLM) and pair-correlation analysis to measure the codistribution of IgE-FcεRI and Lyn on the plasma membrane of fixed cells with 20- to 25-nm resolution. We directly visualized Lyn recruitment to IgE-FcεRI within 1 min of antigen stimulation. Parallel FLM experiments captured stimulation-induced FcεRI phosphorylation and colocalization of a saturated lipid-anchor probe derived from Lyn’s membrane anchorage. We used cytochalasin and latrunculin to investigate participation of the actin cytoskeleton in regulating functional interactions of FcεRI. Inhibition of actin polymerization by these agents enhanced colocalization of IgE-FcεRI with Lyn and its saturated lipid anchor at early stimulation times, accompanied by augmented phosphorylation within FcεRI clusters. Ising model simulations provide a simplified model consistent with our results. These findings extend previous evidence that IgE-FcεRI signaling is initiated by colocalization with Lyn in ordered lipid regions and that the actin cytoskeleton regulates this functional interaction by influencing the organization of membrane lipids.

Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Stimulate Ruffling and Shedding of Mammalian Cell Plasma Membranes

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted intense interest for use in living systems and environmental applications. GO's compatibility with mammalian cells is sometimes inferred from its low cytotoxicity, but such conclusions ignore non-lethal effects that will influence GO's utility. Here we demonstrate, with rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells, profound plasma membrane (PM) ruffling and shedding induced by GO using confocal and live cell fluorescence microscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. These membrane structures contain immunoglobulin E receptors, are resistant to detergents, and lack detectable fluorescence labeling of F-actin and fibronectin. The formation of these membrane structures correlates with a loss of contact inhibition between RBL cells. We observe similar cellular responses towards GO for NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. These findings reveal a previously unreported cellular response towards foreign nanomaterials. Membrane ruffling and shedding raise fundamental questions about how GO interacts with the PM, as well as its potential to modulate cellular mechanosensing for tissue engineering, stem cell differentiation, and other biomedical applications.

Current approaches to studying membrane organization

The local structure and composition of the outer membrane of an animal cell are important factors in the control of many membrane processes and mechanisms. These include signaling, sorting, and exo- and endocytic processes that are occurring all the time in a living cell. Paradoxically, not only are the local structure and composition of the membrane matters of much debate and discussion, the mechanisms that govern its genesis remain highly controversial. Here, we discuss a swathe of new technological advances that may be applied to understand the local structure and composition of the membrane of a living cell from the molecular scale to the scale of the whole membrane.

Steady-state cross-correlations for live two-colour super-resolution localization data sets

Cross-correlation of super-resolution images gathered from point localizations allows for robust quantification of protein co-distributions in chemically fixed cells. Here this is extended to dynamic systems through an analysis that quantifies the steady-state cross-correlation between spectrally distinguishable probes. This methodology is used to quantify the co-distribution of several mobile membrane proteins in both vesicles and live cells, including Lyn kinase and the B-cell receptor during antigen stimulation.

Dances with Membranes: Breakthroughs from Super-resolution Imaging

Biological membrane organization mediates numerous cellular functions and has also been connected with an immense number of human diseases. However, until recently, experimental methodologies have been unable to directly visualize the nanoscale details of biological membranes, particularly in intact living cells. Numerous models explaining membrane organization have been proposed, but testing those models has required indirect methods; the desire to directly image proteins and lipids in living cell membranes is a strong motivation for the advancement of technology. The development of super-resolution microscopy has provided powerful tools for quantification of membrane organization at the level of individual proteins and lipids, and many of these tools are compatible with living cells. Previously inaccessible questions are now being addressed, and the field of membrane biology is developing rapidly. This chapter discusses how the development of super-resolution microscopy has led to fundamental advances in the field of biological membrane organization. We summarize the history and some models explaining how proteins are organized in cell membranes, and give an overview of various super-resolution techniques and methods of quantifying super-resolution data. We discuss the application of super-resolution techniques to membrane biology in general, and also with specific reference to the fields of actin and actin-binding proteins, virus infection, mitochondria, immune cell biology, and phosphoinositide signaling. Finally, we present our hopes and expectations for the future of super-resolution microscopy in the field of membrane biology.

Near-field fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy on planar membranes

The organization and dynamics of plasma membrane components at the nanometer scale are essential for biological functions such as transmembrane signaling and endocytosis. Planarized nanoscale apertures in a metallic film are demonstrated as a means of confining the excitation light for multicolor fluorescence spectroscopy to a 55 ± 10 nm beam waist. This technique provides simultaneous two-color, subdiffraction-limited fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy on planar membranes. The fabrication and implementation of this technique are demonstrated for both model membranes and live cells. Membrane-bound proteins were observed to cluster upon the addition of a multivalent cross-linker: On supported lipid bilayers, clusters of cholera toxin subunit B were formed upon cross-linking by an antibody specific for this protein; on living cells, immunoglobulin E bound to its receptor (FcεRI) on the plasma membranes of RBL mast cells was observed to form clusters upon exposure to a trivalent antigen. The formation of membrane clusters was quantified via fluorescence intensity vs time and changes in the temporal auto- and cross-correlations above a single nanoscale aperture. The illumination profile from a single aperture is analyzed experimentally and computationally with a rim-dominated illumination profile, yielding no change in the autocorrelation dwell time with changes in aperture diameter from 60 to 250 nm. This near-field fluorescence cross-correlation methodology provides access to nanoscale details of dynamic membrane interactions and motivates further development of near-field optical methods.

Distinct stages of stimulated FcεRI receptor clustering and immobilization are identified through superresolution imaging

Recent advances in fluorescence localization microscopy have made it possible to image chemically fixed and living cells at 20 nm lateral resolution. We apply this methodology to simultaneously record receptor organization and dynamics on the ventral surface of live RBL-2H3 mast cells undergoing antigen-mediated signaling. Cross-linking of IgE bound to FcεRI by multivalent antigen initiates mast cell activation, which leads to inflammatory responses physiologically. We quantify receptor organization and dynamics as cells are stimulated at room temperature (22°C). Within 2 min of antigen addition, receptor diffusion coefficients decrease by an order of magnitude, and single-particle trajectories are confined. Within 5 min of antigen addition, receptors organize into clusters containing ∼100 receptors with average radii of ∼70 nm. By comparing simultaneous measurements of clustering and mobility, we determine that there are two distinct stages of receptor clustering. In the first stage, which precedes stimulated Ca(2+) mobilization, receptors slow dramatically but are not tightly clustered. In the second stage, receptors are tightly packed and confined. We find that stimulation-dependent changes in both receptor clustering and mobility can be reversed by displacing multivalent antigen with monovalent ligands, and that these changes can be modulated through enrichment or reduction in cellular cholesterol levels.

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy measures clustering and mobility of a G protein-coupled receptor opsin in live cell membranes

Determining membrane protein quaternary structure is extremely challenging, especially in live cell membranes. We measured the oligomerization of opsin, a prototypical G protein-coupled receptor with pulsed-interleaved excitation fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (PIE-FCCS). Individual cell measurements revealed that opsin is predominantly organized into dimeric clusters. At low concentrations, we observed that the population of oligomers increased linearly with the square of the individual monomer populations. This finding supports a monomer-dimer equilibrium and provides an experimental measurement of the equilibrium constant.

Conformational coupling across the plasma membrane in activation of the EGF receptor

How the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activates is incompletely understood. The intracellular portion of the receptor is intrinsically active in solution, and to study its regulation, we measured autophosphorylation as a function of EGFR surface density in cells. Without EGF, intact EGFR escapes inhibition only at high surface densities. Although the transmembrane helix and the intracellular module together suffice for constitutive activity even at low densities, the intracellular module is inactivated when tethered on its own to the plasma membrane, and fluorescence cross-correlation shows that it fails to dimerize. NMR and functional data indicate that activation requires an N-terminal interaction between the transmembrane helices, which promotes an antiparallel interaction between juxtamembrane segments and release of inhibition by the membrane. We conclude that EGF binding removes steric constraints in the extracellular module, promoting activation through N-terminal association of the transmembrane helices.

Dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy with continuous laser excitation in a confocal setup

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy evaluates local signal fluctuations arising from stochastic movements of fluorescent particles in solution. The measured fluctuating signal is correlated in time and analyzed with appropriate model functions containing the parameters that describe the underlying molecular behavior. The dual-color extension, fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) allows for a comparison between spectrally well-separated channels to extract codiffusion events that reflect interactions between differently labeled molecules. In addition to solution measurements, FCCS can be applied with subcellular resolution and is therefore a very promising approach for a quantitative biochemical assessment of molecular networks in living cells. To derive thermodynamic and kinetic reaction parameters, the influence of a number of other factors like background noise, illumination intensity profiles, photophysical processes, and cross talk between the channels have to be treated. Here, we provide a roadmap to derive binding reaction data with dual-color FCCS using continuous wave laser excitation, as it is now accessible with many state-of-the-art confocal microscopes.

A mechanistic model of early FcεRI signaling: lipid rafts and the question of protection from dephosphorylation

We present a model of the early events in mast cell signaling mediated by FcεRI where the plasma membrane is composed of many small ordered lipid domains (rafts), surrounded by a non-order region of lipids consisting of the remaining plasma membrane. The model treats the rafts as transient structures that constantly form and breakup, but that maintain a fixed average number per cell. The rafts have a high propensity for harboring Lyn kinase, aggregated, but not unaggregated receptors, and the linker for the activation of T cells (LAT). Phosphatase activity in the rafts is substantially reduced compared to the nonraft region. We use the model to analyze published experiments on the rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cell line that seem to contradict the notion that rafts offer protection. In these experiments IgE was cross-linked with a multivalent antigen and then excess monovalent hapten was added to break-up cross-links. The dephosphorylation of the unaggregated receptor (nonraft associated) and of LAT (raft associated) were then monitored in time and found to decay at similar rates, leading to the conclusion that rafts offer no protection from dephosphorylation. In the model, because the rafts are transient, a protein that is protected while in a raft will be subject to dephosphorylation when the raft breaks up and the protein finds itself in the nonraft region of the membrane. We show that the model is consistent with the receptor and LAT dephosphorylation experiments while still allowing rafts to enhance signaling by providing substantial protection from phosphatases.

Dynamic organizing principles of the plasma membrane that regulate signal transduction: commemorating the fortieth anniversary of Singer and Nicolson's fluid-mosaic model

The recent rapid accumulation of knowledge on the dynamics and structure of the plasma membrane has prompted major modifications of the textbook fluid-mosaic model. However, because the new data have been obtained in a variety of research contexts using various biological paradigms, the impact of the critical conceptual modifications on biomedical research and development has been limited. In this review, we try to synthesize our current biological, chemical, and physical knowledge about the plasma membrane to provide new fundamental organizing principles of this structure that underlie every molecular mechanism that realizes its functions. Special attention is paid to signal transduction function and the dynamic aspect of the organizing principles. We propose that the cooperative action of the hierarchical three-tiered mesoscale (2-300 nm) domains--actin-membrane-skeleton induced compartments (40-300 nm), raft domains (2-20 nm), and dynamic protein complex domains (3-10 nm)--is critical for membrane function and distinguishes the plasma membrane from a classical Singer-Nicolson-type model.

Correcting for spectral cross-talk in dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy

Dual-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (dcFCCS) allows one to quantitatively assess the interactions of mobile molecules labeled with distinct fluorophores. The technique is widely applied to both reconstituted and live-cell biological systems. A major drawback of dcFCCS is the risk of an artifactual false-positive or overestimated cross-correlation amplitude arising from spectral cross-talk. Cross-talk can be reduced or prevented by fast alternating excitation, but the technology is not easily implemented in standard commercial setups. An experimental strategy is devised that does not require specialized hardware and software for recognizing and correcting for cross-talk in standard dcFCCS. The dependence of the cross-talk on particle concentrations and brightnesses is quantitatively confirmed. Moreover, it is straightforward to quantitatively correct for cross-talk using quickly accessible parameters, that is, the measured (apparent) fluorescence count rates and correlation amplitudes. Only the bleed-through ratio needs to be determined in a calibration measurement. Finally, the limitations of cross-talk correction and its influence on experimental error are explored.

Lipid rafts generate digital-like signal transduction in cell plasma membranes

Lipid rafts are meso-scale (5-200 nm) cell membrane domains where signaling molecules assemble and function. However, due to their dynamic nature, it has been difficult to unravel the mechanism of signal transduction in lipid rafts. Recent advanced imaging techniques have revealed that signaling molecules are frequently, but transiently, recruited to rafts with the aid of protein-protein, protein-lipid, and/or lipid-lipid interactions. Individual signaling molecules within the raft are activated only for a short period of time. Immobilization of signaling molecules by cytoskeletal actin filaments and scaffold proteins may facilitate more efficient signal transmission from rafts. In this review, current opinions of how the transient nature of molecular interactions in rafts generates digital-like signal transduction in cell membranes, and the benefits this phenomenon provides, are discussed.

Quantitative nanoscale analysis of IgE-FcεRI clustering and coupling to early signaling proteins

Antigen-mediated cross-linking of IgE bound to its receptor, FcεRI, initiates a transmembrane signaling cascade that results in mast cell activation in the allergic response. Using immunogold labeling of intact RBL mast cells and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we visualize molecular reorganization of IgE-FcεRI and early signaling proteins on both leaflets of the plasma membrane, without the need for ripped off membrane sheets. As quantified by pair correlation analysis, we observe dramatic changes in the nanoscale distribution of IgE-FcεRI after binding of multivalent antigen to stimulate transmembrane signaling, and this is accompanied by similar clustering of Lyn and Syk tyrosine kinases, and adaptor protein LAT. We find that Lyn co-redistributes with IgE-FcεRI into clusters that cross-correlate throughout 20 min of stimulation. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity reduces the numbers of both IgE-FcεRI and Lyn in stimulated clusters. Coupling of these proteins is also decreased when membrane cholesterol is reduced either before or after antigen addition. These results provide evidence for involvement of FcεRI phosphorylation and cholesterol-dependent membrane structure in the interactions that accompany IgE-mediated activation of RBL mast cells. More generally, this SEM view of intact cell surfaces provides new insights into the nanoscale organization of receptor-mediated signaling complexes in the plasma membrane.

Correlation functions quantify super-resolution images and estimate apparent clustering due to over-counting

We present an analytical method using correlation functions to quantify clustering in super-resolution fluorescence localization images and electron microscopy images of static surfaces in two dimensions. We use this method to quantify how over-counting of labeled molecules contributes to apparent self-clustering and to calculate the effective lateral resolution of an image. This treatment applies to distributions of proteins and lipids in cell membranes, where there is significant interest in using electron microscopy and super-resolution fluorescence localization techniques to probe membrane heterogeneity. When images are quantified using pair auto-correlation functions, the magnitude of apparent clustering arising from over-counting varies inversely with the surface density of labeled molecules and does not depend on the number of times an average molecule is counted. In contrast, we demonstrate that over-counting does not give rise to apparent co-clustering in double label experiments when pair cross-correlation functions are measured. We apply our analytical method to quantify the distribution of the IgE receptor (FcεRI) on the plasma membranes of chemically fixed RBL-2H3 mast cells from images acquired using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM/dSTORM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We find that apparent clustering of FcεRI-bound IgE is dominated by over-counting labels on individual complexes when IgE is directly conjugated to organic fluorophores. We verify this observation by measuring pair cross-correlation functions between two distinguishably labeled pools of IgE-FcεRI on the cell surface using both imaging methods. After correcting for over-counting, we observe weak but significant self-clustering of IgE-FcεRI in fluorescence localization measurements, and no residual self-clustering as detected with SEM. We also apply this method to quantify IgE-FcεRI redistribution after deliberate clustering by crosslinking with two distinct trivalent ligands of defined architectures, and we evaluate contributions from both over-counting of labels and redistribution of proteins.

Membrane mechanisms for signal transduction: the coupling of the meso-scale raft domains to membrane-skeleton-induced compartments and dynamic protein complexes

Virtually all biological membranes on earth share the basic structure of a two-dimensional liquid. Such universality and peculiarity are comparable to those of the double helical structure of DNA, strongly suggesting the possibility that the fundamental mechanisms for the various functions of the plasma membrane could essentially be understood by a set of simple organizing principles, developed during the course of evolution. As an initial effort toward the development of such understanding, in this review, we present the concept of the cooperative action of the hierarchical three-tiered meso-scale (2-300 nm) domains in the plasma membrane: (1) actin membrane-skeleton-induced compartments (40-300 nm), (2) raft domains (2-20 nm), and (3) dynamic protein complex domains (3-10nm). Special attention is paid to the concept of meso-scale domains, where both thermal fluctuations and weak cooperativity play critical roles, and the coupling of the raft domains to the membrane-skeleton-induced compartments as well as dynamic protein complexes. The three-tiered meso-domain architecture of the plasma membrane provides an excellent perspective for understanding the membrane mechanisms of signal transduction.

Impaired FcεRI stability, signaling, and effector functions in murine mast cells lacking glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins

A key event and potential therapeutic target in allergic and asthmatic diseases is signaling by the IgE receptor FcεRI, which depends on its interactions with Src family kinases (SFK). Here we tested the hypothesis that glycosylphosphatidylinositiol-anchored proteins (GPI-AP) are involved in FcεRI signaling, based on previous observations that GPI-AP colocalize with and mediate activation of SFK. We generated mice with a hematopoietic cell-specific GPI-AP deficiency by targeted disruption of the GPI biosynthesis gene PigA. In these mice, IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis was largely abolished. PigA-deficient mast cells cultured from these mice showed impaired degranulation in response to stimulation with IgE and antigen in vitro, despite normal IgE binding and antigen-induced FcεRI aggregation. On stimulation of these cells with IgE and antigen, coprecipitation of the FcεRI α-chain with the γ-chain and β-chain was markedly reduced. As a result, IgE/antigen-induced FcεRI-Lyn association and γ-chain tyrosine phosphorylation were both impaired in PigA-deficient cells. These data provide genetic evidence for an unanticipated key role of GPI-AP in FcεRI interchain interactions and early FcεRI signaling events, necessary for antigen-induced mast cell degranulation.

Detecting nanodomains in living cell membrane by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Cell membranes actively participate in numerous cellular functions. Inasmuch as bioactivities of cell membranes are known to depend crucially on their lateral organization, much effort has been focused on deciphering this organization on different length scales. Within this context, the concept of lipid rafts has been intensively discussed over recent years. In line with its ability to measure diffusion parameters with great precision, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements have been made in association with innovative experimental strategies to monitor modes of molecular lateral diffusion within the plasma membrane of living cells. These investigations have allowed significant progress in the characterization of the cell membrane lateral organization at the suboptical level and have provided compelling evidence for the in vivo existence of raft nanodomains. We review these FCS-based studies and the characteristic structural features of raft nanodomains. We also discuss the findings in regards to the current view of lipid rafts as a general membrane-organizing principle.

An array of planar apertures for near-field fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

We have developed a method of performing near-field fluorescence correlation spectroscopy via an array of planarized circular apertures of 50 nm diameter. This technique provides 1 μs and 60 nm resolution on proximal samples, including live cells, without incorporating a scanning probe or pulsed lasers or requiring penetration of the sample into the aperture. Millions of apertures are created in an array within a thin film of aluminum on a coverslip and planarized to achieve no height distinction between the apertures and the surrounding metal. Supported lipid bilayers and plasma membranes from live cells adhere to the top of this substrate. We performed fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to demonstrate the sub-diffraction-limited illumination with these devices.

Cellular responses to patterned poly(acrylic acid) brushes

We use patterned poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) polymer brushes to explore the effects of surface chemistry and topography on cell-surface interactions. Most past studies of surface topography effects on cell adhesion have focused on patterned feature sizes that are larger than the dimensions of a cell, and PAA brushes have been characterized as cell repellent. Here we report cell adhesion studies for RBL mast cells incubated on PAA brush surfaces patterned with a variety of different feature sizes. We find that when patterned at subcellular dimensions on silicon surfaces, PAA brushes that are 30 or 15 nm thick facilitate cell adhesion. This appears to be mediated by fibronectin, which is secreted by the cells, adsorbing to the brushes and then engaging cell-surface integrins. The result is detectable accumulation of plasma membrane within the brushes, and this involves cytoskeletal remodeling at the cell-surface interface. By decreasing brush thickness, we find that PAA can be 'tuned' to promote cell adhesion with down-modulated membrane accumulation. We exemplify the utility of patterned PAA brush arrays for spatially controlling the activation of cells by modifying brushes with ligands that specifically engage IgE bound to high-affinity receptors on mast cells.

Lateral dynamics of proteins with polybasic domain on anionic membranes: a dynamic Monte-Carlo study

Positively charged polybasic domains are essential for recruiting multiple signaling proteins, such as Ras GTPases and Src kinase, to the negatively charged cellular membranes. Much less, however, is known about the influence of electrostatic interactions on the lateral dynamics of these proteins. We developed a dynamic Monte-Carlo automaton that faithfully simulates lateral diffusion of the adsorbed positively charged oligopeptides as well as the dynamics of mono- (phosphatidylserine) and polyvalent (PIP(2)) anionic lipids within the bilayer. In agreement with earlier results, our simulations reveal lipid demixing that leads to the formation of a lipid shell associated with the peptide. The computed association times and average numbers of bound lipids demonstrate that tetravalent PIP(2) interacts with the peptide much more strongly than monovalent lipid. On the spatially homogeneous membrane, the lipid shell affects the behavior of the peptide only by weakly reducing its lateral mobility. However, spatially heterogeneous distributions of monovalent lipids are found to produce peptide drift, the velocity of which is determined by the total charge of the peptide-lipid complex. We hypothesize that this predicted phenomenon may affect the spatial distribution of proteins with polybasic domains in the context of cell-signaling events that alter the local density of monovalent anionic lipids.

Spatio-temporal signaling in mast cells

This chapter summarizes the evidence for localized signaling domains in mast cells and basophils, with a particular focus on the high affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI and its crosstalk with other membrane proteins. It is noteworthy that a literature spanning 30 years established the FcεRI as a model receptor for studying activation-induced changes in receptor diffusion and lipid raft association. Now a combination of high resolution microscopy methods, including immunoelectron microscopy and sophisticated fluorescence-based techniques, provide new insight into the nanoscale spatial and temporal aspects of receptor topography on the mast cell plasma membrane. Physical crosslinking of FcεRI with multivalent ligands leads to formation of IgE receptor clusters, termed "signaling patches," that recruit downstream signaling molecules. However, classes of receptors that engage solely withmono valent ligands can also form distinctive signaling patches. The dynamic relationships between receptor diffusion, aggregation state, clustering, signal initiation and signal strength are discussed in the context of these recent findings.

Spatial organization of transmembrane receptor signalling

The spatial organization of transmembrane receptors is a critical step in signal transduction and receptor trafficking in cells. Transmembrane receptors engage in lateral homotypic and heterotypic cis-interactions as well as intercellular trans-interactions that result in the formation of signalling foci for the initiation of different signalling networks. Several aspects of ligand-induced receptor clustering and association with signalling proteins are also influenced by the lipid composition of membranes. Thus, lipid microdomains have a function in tuning the activity of many transmembrane receptors by positively or negatively affecting receptor clustering and signal transduction. We review the current knowledge about the functions of clustering of transmembrane receptors and lipid-protein interactions important for the spatial organization of signalling at the membrane.

What precedes the initial tyrosine phosphorylation of the high affinity IgE receptor in antigen-activated mast cell?

An interaction of multivalent antigen with its IgE bound to the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on the surface of mast cells or basophils initiates a series of signaling events leading to degranulation and release of inflammatory mediators. Earlier studies showed that the first biochemically defined step in this signaling cascade is tyrosine phosphorylation of the FcεRI β subunit by Src family kinase Lyn. However, the processes affecting this step remained elusive. In this review we critically evaluate three current models (transphosphorylation, lipid raft, and our preferential protein tyrosine kinase-protein tyrosine phosphatase interplay model) substantiating three different mechanisms of FcεRI phosphorylation.

Endocytosis of nanomedicines

Novel nanomaterials are being developed to improve diagnosis and therapy of diseases through effective delivery of drugs, biopharmaceutical molecules and imaging agents to target cells in disease sites. Such diagnostic and therapeutic nanomaterials, also termed "nanomedicines", often require site-specific cellular entry to deliver their payload to sub-cellular locations hidden beneath cell membranes. Nanomedicines can employ multiple pathways for cellular entry, which are currently insufficiently understood. This review, first, classifies various mechanisms of endocytosis available to nanomedicines including phagocytosis and pinocytosis through clathrin-dependent and clathrin-independent pathways. Second, it describes the current experimental tools to study endocytosis of nanomedicines. Third, it provides specific examples from recent literature and our own work on endocytosis of nanomedicines. Finally, these examples are used to ascertain 1) the role of particle size, shape, material composition, surface chemistry and/or charge for utilization of a selected pathway(s); 2) the effect of cell type on the processing of nanomedicines; and 3) the effect of nanomaterial-cell interactions on the processes of endocytosis, the fate of the nanomedicines and the resulting cellular responses. This review will be useful to a diverse audience of students and scientists who are interested in understanding endocytosis of nanomedicines.

Distribution and dynamics of rat basophilic leukemia immunoglobulin E receptors (FcepsilonRI) on planar ligand-presenting surfaces

There is considerable interest in the signaling mechanisms of immunoreceptors, especially when triggered with membrane-bound ligands. We have quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics of the redistribution of immunoglobulin E-loaded receptors (IgE-FcepsilonRI) on rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 mast cells in contact with fluid and gel-phase membranes displaying ligands for immunoglobulin E, using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. To clearly separate the kinetics of receptor redistribution from cell spreading, and to precisely define the initial contact time (+/-50 ms), micropipette cell manipulation was used to bring individual cells into contact with surfaces. On ligand-free surfaces, there are micron-scale heterogeneities in fluorescence that likely reflect regions of the cell that are more closely apposed to the substrate. When ligands are present, receptor clusters form with this same size scale. The initial rate of accumulation of receptors into the clusters is consistent with diffusion-limited trapping with D approximately 10(-1) microm2/s. These results support the hypothesis that clusters form by diffusion to cell-surface contact regions. Over longer timescales (>10 s), individual clusters moved with both diffusive and directed motion components. The dynamics of the cluster motion is similar to the dynamics of membrane fluctuations of cells on ligand-free fluid membranes. Thus, the same cellular machinery may be responsible for both processes.

HIV-1 Nef binds a subpopulation of MHC-I throughout its trafficking itinerary and down-regulates MHC-I by perturbing both anterograde and retrograde trafficking

The HIV protein Nef is thought to mediate immune evasion and promote viral persistence in part by down-regulating major histocompatibility complex class I protein (MHC-I or HLA-I) from the cell surface. Two different models have been proposed to explain this phenomenon as follows: 1) stimulation of MHC-I retrograde trafficking from and aberrant recycling to the plasma membrane, and 2) inhibition of anterograde trafficking of newly synthesized HLA-I from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane. We show here that Nef simultaneously uses both mechanisms to down-regulate HLA-I in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or HeLa cells. Consistent with this, we found by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy that a third of diffusing HLA-I at the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi/trans-Golgi network, and the plasma membrane (PM) was associated with Nef. The binding of Nef was similarly avid for native HLA-I and recombinant HLA-I A2 at the PM. Nef binding to HLA-I at the PM was sensitive to specific inhibition of endocytosis. It was also attenuated by cyclodextrin disruption of PM lipid micro-domain architecture, a change that also retarded lateral diffusion and induced large clusters of HLA-I. In all, our data support a model for Nef down-regulation of HLA-I that involves both major trafficking itineraries and persistent protein-protein interactions throughout the cell.

Adapters in the organization of mast cell signaling

Mast cells are pivotal in innate immunity and play an important role in amplifying adaptive immunity. Nonetheless, they have long been known to be central to the initiation of allergic disorders. This results from the dysregulation of the immune response whereby normally innocuous substances are recognized as non-self, resulting in the production of IgE antibodies to these 'allergens'. Preformed and newly synthesized inflammatory (allergic) mediators are released from the mast cell following allergen-mediated aggregation of allergen-specific IgE bound to the high-affinity receptors for IgE (FcepsilonRI). Thus, the process by which the mast cell is able to interpret the engagement of FcepsilonRI into the molecular events necessary for release of their allergic mediators is of considerable therapeutic interest. Unraveling these molecular events has led to the discovery of a functional class of proteins that are essential in organizing activated signaling molecules and in coordinating and compartmentalizing their activity. These so-called 'adapters' bind multiple signaling proteins and localize them to specific cellular compartments, such as the plasma membrane. This organization is essential for normal mast cell responses. Here, we summarize the role of adapter proteins in mast cells focusing on the most recent advances toward understanding how these molecules work upon FcepsilonRI engagement.

Relationships between plasma membrane microdomains and HIV-1 assembly

Advances in cell biology and biophysics revealed that cellular membranes consist of multiple microdomains with specific sets of components such as lipid rafts and TEMs (tetraspanin-enriched microdomains). An increasing number of enveloped viruses have been shown to utilize these microdomains during their assembly. Among them, association of HIV-1 (HIV type 1) and other retroviruses with lipid rafts and TEMs within the PM (plasma membrane) is well documented. In this review, I describe our current knowledge on interrelationships between PM microdomain organization and the HIV-1 particle assembly process. Microdomain association during virus particle assembly may also modulate subsequent virus spread. Potential roles played by microdomains will be discussed with regard to two post-assembly events, i.e., inhibition of virus release by a raft-associated protein BST-2/tetherin and cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission at virological synapses.

Estrogen receptor interactions and dynamics monitored in live cells by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy

Quantitative characterization of protein interactions in live cells remains one of the most important challenges in modern biology. In the present work we have used two-photon, two-color, fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) in transiently transfected COS-7 cells to measure the concentrations and interactions of estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes alpha and beta with one of their transcriptional coactivator proteins, TIF2, as well as heterodimerization between the two ER subtypes. Using this approach in a systematic fashion, we observed a strong ligand-dependent modulation of receptor-coactivator complexation, as well as strong protein concentration dependence for complex formation in the absence of ligand. These quantitative values for protein and complex concentrations provide the first estimates for the ER-TIF2 K(d) for the full-length proteins and in a cellular context (agonist, < approximately 6 nM; antagonist, > approximately 3 microM; unliganded, approximately 200 nM). Coexpression of the two ER subtypes revealed substantial receptor heterodimer formation. They also provide, for the first time, estimated homo- and heterodimerization constants found to be similar and in the low nanomolar range. These results underscore the importance of receptor and coregulator expression levels and stability in the tissue-dependent modulation of receptor function under normal and pathological conditions.

Temperature-dependent phase behavior and protein partitioning in giant plasma membrane vesicles

Liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) phase coexistence has been suggested to partition the plasma membrane of biological cells into lateral compartments, allowing for enrichment or depletion of functionally relevant molecules. This dynamic partitioning might be involved in fine-tuning cellular signaling fidelity through coupling to the plasma membrane protein and lipid composition. In earlier work, giant plasma membrane vesicles, obtained by chemically induced blebbing from cultured cells, were observed to reversibly phase segregate at temperatures significantly below 37 degrees C. In this contribution, we compare the temperature dependence of fluid phase segregation in HeLa and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells. We find an essentially monotonic temperature dependence of the number of phase-separated vesicles in both cell types. We also observe a strikingly broad distribution of phase transition temperatures in both cell types. The binding of peripheral proteins, such as cholera toxin subunit B (CTB), as well as Annexin V, is observed to modulate phase transition temperatures, indicating that peripheral protein binding may be a regulator for lateral heterogeneity in vivo. The partitioning of numerous signal protein anchors and full length proteins is investigated. We find Lo phase partitioning for several proteins assumed in the literature to be membrane raft associated, but observe deviations from this expectation for other proteins, including caveolin-1.

Measurement of molecular mobility with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a fluctuation method established three decades ago, whose application to cellular systems became popular in the last decade. Fluctuations of fluorescence emission are observed from a small, femtoliter to sub-femtoliter, usually confocal volume at high time resolution. A time-dependent autocorrelation function is generated and evaluated to obtain time constants of photophysical and photochemical reactions, as well as of molecular diffusion and in the observation volume. Molecules in various subcellular compartments-including the nucleus, the cytoplasm, and the membrane-can be observed after labeling them with antibodies, ligands, or fluorescent proteins. The anomaly of diffusion, the local concentration, and the average fluorescence per diffusing particle can also be determined, all of which can be characteristic of molecular interactions. A two-color version of FCS, fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy, can also be applied to observe co-diffusion, i.e., stable association of two distinct molecular species in their cellular environment.

Caught in the act: quantifying protein behaviour in living cells

Protein localization and dynamics both have important roles in cell signal transduction. Biochemical studies have elucidated many details about the chain of events in signal cascades, but the poor temporal resolution and absence of spatial localization in these conventional techniques make it difficult to determine the "where and when" of protein interactions. Over the past decade, imaging technologies and biological tools have developed to a point where many fundamental questions about protein activity can be addressed at the molecular level in living cells, revealing spatio-temporal information that is not provided by traditional biochemical assays. In this review, we illustrate the power of emerging fluorescence microscopy techniques to capture and quantify protein dynamics.

Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy using single wavelength laser

In this paper, we first introduced the basic principle of fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) and then established an FCCS setup using a single wavelength laser. We systematically optimized the setup, and the detection volume reached about 0.7 fL. The homebuilt setup was successfully applied for the study of the binding reaction of human immunoglobulin G with goat antihuman immunoglobulin G. Using quantum dots (745 nm emission wavelength) and Rhodamine B (580 nm emission wavelength) as labeling probes and 532 nm laser beam as an excitation source, the cross-talk effect was almost completely suppressed. The molecule numbers in a highly focused volume, the concentration, and the diffusion time and hydrodynamic radii of the reaction products can be determined by FCCS system.