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Quantitative single particle tracking of NGF–receptor complexes: Transport is bidirectional but biased by longer retrograde run lengths
Author(s) -
Echarte María M.,
Bruno Luciana,
Arndt-Jovin Donna J.,
Jovin Thomas M.,
Pietrasanta Lía I.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.05.041
Subject(s) - particle (ecology) , tracking (education) , biophysics , chemistry , receptor , biology , biochemistry , psychology , ecology , pedagogy
The retrograde transport of nerve growth factor (NGF) in neurite‐like processes of living differentiated PC12 cells was studied using streptavidin‐quantum dots (QDs) coupled to monobiotin‐NGF. These reagents were active in differentiation, binding, internalization, and transport. Ten‐35% of the QD–NGF–receptor complexes were mobile. Quantitative single particle tracking revealed a bidirectional step‐like motion, requiring intact microtubules, with a net retrograde velocity of 0.054 ± 0.020 μm/s. Individual runs had a mean velocity of ∼0.15 μm/s at room temperature, and the run times were exponentially distributed. The photostability and brightness of QDs permit extended real‐time analysis of individual QDbNGF– receptor complexes trafficking within neurites.