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Targeting quantum dots to surface proteins in living cells
Author(s) -
Yoo YoungMi,
Kim YongJung,
Yoo HyunTae,
Lee Uhn
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.583.1
Subject(s) - photobleaching , quantum dot , fluorescence , nanotechnology , chemistry , fluorescence recovery after photobleaching , biophysics , membrane protein , cell membrane , nanoparticle , cell , membrane , materials science , physics , biology , biochemistry , optics
Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles that greatly expand the possibilities for fluorescence imaging of cells and living animals. Compared with small molecule dyes, the intense fluorescence emission of QDs makes it easier to track single protein molecules, they are remarkably resistant to photobleaching, their narrow emission spectrum facilitates imaging of many proteins simultaneously, and their large The size of this QD complex (≈50 nm) can affect membrane protein trafficking and can reduce accessibility to crowded locations in cells. Our aim was to develop a method to target QDs to cell surface proteins that eliminated the bulky antibodies and provided a stable linkage between the QD and the protein of interest. The speed, specificity, and simplicity of labeling with Qtracker should make it a common tool for the study of cell surface proteins.