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Quantifying subcellular distribution of fluorescent fusion proteins in cells migrating within tissues
Author(s) -
Melichar Heather J,
Li Ou,
Herzmark Paul,
Padmanabhan Raghav K,
Oliaro Jane,
LudfordMenting Mandy J,
Bousso Philippe,
Russell Sarah M,
Roysam Badrinath,
Robey Ellen A
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.2010.122
Subject(s) - green fluorescent protein , protein subcellular localization prediction , microbiology and biotechnology , fusion protein , subcellular localization , biology , cell , fluorescence , fluorescent protein , fluorescence microscope , cell polarity , cytoplasm , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna , physics , quantum mechanics
The movement of proteins within cells can provide dynamic indications of cell signaling and cell polarity, but methods are needed to track and quantify subcellular protein movement within tissue environments. Here we present a semiautomated approach to quantify subcellular protein location for hundreds of migrating cells within intact living tissue using retrovirally expressed fluorescent fusion proteins and time‐lapse two‐photon microscopy of intact thymic lobes. We have validated the method using GFP‐PKCζ, a marker for cell polarity, and LAT‐GFP, a marker for T‐cell receptor signaling, and have related the asymmetric distribution of these proteins to the direction and speed of cell migration. These approaches could be readily adapted to other fluorescent fusion proteins, tissues and biological questions.