scholarly journals Getting Across the Plasma Membrane and Beyond: Intracellular Uses of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Luccardini ◽  
Aleksey Yakovlev ◽  
Stéphane Gaillard ◽  
Marcel van ‘t Hoff ◽  
Alicia Piera Alberola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽  
Stokes Shift ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Subcellular Compartment ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽  
Cellular Machinery ◽  
Intracellular Labelling

Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are increasingly being used as photoluminescen markers in biological imaging. Their brightness, large Stokes shift, and high photostability compared to organic fluorophores permit the exploration of biological phenomena at the single-molecule scale with superior temporal resolution and spatial precision. NCs have predominantly been used as extracellular markers for tagging and tracking membrane proteins. Successful internalization and intracellular labelling with NCs have been demonstrated for both fixed immunolabelled and live cells. However, the precise localization and subcellular compartment labelled are less clear. Generally, live cell studies are limited by the requirement of fairly invasive protocols for loading NCs and the relatively large size of NCs compared to the cellular machinery, along with the subsequent sequestration of NCs in endosomal/lysosomal compartments. For long-period observation the potential cytotoxicity of cytoplasmically loaded NCs must be evaluated. This review focuses on the challenges of intracellular uses of NCs.

scholarly journals Dynamic lattice distortions driven by surface trapping in semiconductor nanocrystals

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Burak Guzelturk ◽  
Benjamin L. Cotts ◽  
Dipti Jasrasaria ◽  
John P. Philbin ◽  
David A. Hanifi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photon Energy ◽  
Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Atomistic Simulations ◽  
Shell System ◽  
Structural Distortions ◽  
Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽  
Femtosecond Electron Diffraction ◽  
Structural Deformations ◽  
Nonradiative Processes

AbstractNonradiative processes limit optoelectronic functionality of nanocrystals and curb their device performance. Nevertheless, the dynamic structural origins of nonradiative relaxations in such materials are not understood. Here, femtosecond electron diffraction measurements corroborated by atomistic simulations uncover transient lattice deformations accompanying radiationless electronic processes in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals. Investigation of the excitation energy dependence in a core/shell system shows that hot carriers created by a photon energy considerably larger than the bandgap induce structural distortions at nanocrystal surfaces on few picosecond timescales associated with the localization of trapped holes. On the other hand, carriers created by a photon energy close to the bandgap of the core in the same system result in transient lattice heating that occurs on a much longer 200 picosecond timescale, dominated by an Auger heating mechanism. Elucidation of the structural deformations associated with the surface trapping of hot holes provides atomic-scale insights into the mechanisms deteriorating optoelectronic performance and a pathway towards minimizing these losses in nanocrystal devices.

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals: synthesis, optical nonlinearity, and related device applications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Li ◽  
Cong Wang ◽  
Lude Wang ◽  
Han Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Optical ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽  
Optical Nonlinearity ◽  
Photonic Devices ◽  
Nlo Properties ◽  
Novel Materials ◽  
Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽  
Device Applications ◽  
Colloidal Semiconductor

The rapid development of photonic devices requires the exploration of novel materials with superior nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit size-tunable exciton resonances and excellent NLO properties....

scholarly journals Motional dynamics of single Patched1 molecules in cilia are controlled by Hedgehog and cholesterol

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 5550-5557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucien E. Weiss ◽  
Ljiljana Milenkovic ◽  
Joshua Yoon ◽  
Tim Stearns ◽  
W. E. Moerner
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Hedgehog Signaling ◽  
Primary Cilia ◽  
Transmembrane Protein ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Depletion ◽  
Motional Dynamics ◽  
Directional Transport ◽  
Bulk Behavior

The Hedgehog-signaling pathway is an important target in cancer research and regenerative medicine; yet, on the cellular level, many steps are still poorly understood. Extensive studies of the bulk behavior of the key proteins in the pathway established that during signal transduction they dynamically localize in primary cilia, antenna-like solitary organelles present on most cells. The secreted Hedgehog ligand Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) binds to its receptor Patched1 (PTCH1) in primary cilia, causing its inactivation and delocalization from cilia. At the same time, the transmembrane protein Smoothened (SMO) is released of its inhibition by PTCH1 and accumulates in cilia. We used advanced, single molecule-based microscopy to investigate these processes in live cells. As previously observed for SMO, PTCH1 molecules in cilia predominantly move by diffusion and less frequently by directional transport, and spend a fraction of time confined. After treatment with SHH we observed two major changes in the motional dynamics of PTCH1 in cilia. First, PTCH1 molecules spend more time as confined, and less time freely diffusing. This result could be mimicked by a depletion of cholesterol from cells. Second, after treatment with SHH, but not after cholesterol depletion, the molecules that remain in the diffusive state showed a significant increase in the diffusion coefficient. Therefore, PTCH1 inactivation by SHH changes the diffusive motion of PTCH1, possibly by modifying the membrane microenvironment in which PTCH1 resides.

scholarly journals A Photoactivatable Push−Pull Fluorophore for Single-Molecule Imaging in Live Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (29) ◽  
pp. 9204-9205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Lord ◽  
Nicholas R. Conley ◽  
Hsiao-lu D. Lee ◽  
Reichel Samuel ◽  
Na Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Single Molecule Imaging

scholarly journals Full characterization of GPCR monomer–dimer dynamic equilibrium by single molecule imaging

2011 ◽  
Vol 192 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinshi S. Kasai ◽  
Kenichi G. N. Suzuki ◽  
Eric R. Prossnitz ◽  
Ikuko Koyama-Honda ◽  
Chieko Nakada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Equilibrium Constant ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Dissociation Rate ◽  
Formyl Peptide Receptor ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Full Characterization ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Dissociation Rate Constants

Receptor dimerization is important for many signaling pathways. However, the monomer–dimer equilibrium has never been fully characterized for any receptor with a 2D equilibrium constant as well as association/dissociation rate constants (termed super-quantification). Here, we determined the dynamic equilibrium for the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR), a chemoattractant G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR), in live cells at 37°C by developing a single fluorescent-molecule imaging method. Both before and after liganding, the dimer–monomer 2D equilibrium is unchanged, giving an equilibrium constant of 3.6 copies/µm2, with a dissociation and 2D association rate constant of 11.0 s−1 and 3.1 copies/µm2s−1, respectively. At physiological expression levels of ∼2.1 receptor copies/µm2 (∼6,000 copies/cell), monomers continually convert into dimers every 150 ms, dimers dissociate into monomers in 91 ms, and at any moment, 2,500 and 3,500 receptor molecules participate in transient dimers and monomers, respectively. Not only do FPR dimers fall apart rapidly, but FPR monomers also convert into dimers very quickly.

scholarly journals tdLanYFP, a yellow, bright, photostable and pH insensitive fluorescent protein for live cell imaging and FRET-based sensing strategies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Bousmah ◽  
H. Valenta ◽  
G. Bertolin ◽  
U. Singh ◽  
V. Nicolas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Live Cell Imaging ◽  
Cell Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Live Cell ◽  
Live Cells

AbstractYellow fluorescent proteins (YFP) are widely used as optical reporters in Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based biosensors. Although great improvements have been done, the sensitivity of the biosensors is still limited by the low photostability and the poor fluorescence performances of YFPs at acidic pHs. In fact, today, there is no yellow variant derived from the EYFP with a pK1/2 below ∼5.5. Here, we characterize a new yellow fluorescent protein, tdLanYFP, derived from the tetrameric protein from the cephalochordate B. lanceolatum, LanYFP. With a quantum yield of 0.92 and an extinction coefficient of 133 000 mol−1.L.cm−1, it is, to our knowledge, the brightest dimeric fluorescent protein available, and brighter than most of the monomeric YFPs. Contrasting with EYFP and its derivatives, tdLanYFP has a very high photostability in vitro and preserves this property in live cells. As a consequence, tdLanYFP allows the imaging of cellular structures with sub-diffraction resolution with STED nanoscopy. We also demonstrate that the combination of high brightness and strong photostability is compatible with the use of spectro-microscopies in single molecule regimes. Its very low pK1/2 of 3.9 makes tdLanYFP an excellent tag even at acidic pHs. Finally, we show that tdLanYFP can be a FRET partner either as donor or acceptor in different biosensing modalities. Altogether, these assets make tdLanYFPa very attractive yellow fluorescent protein for long-term or single-molecule live-cell imaging that is also suitable for FRET experiment including at acidic pH.

scholarly journals A method for imaging single molecules at the plasma membrane of live cells within tissue slices

2020 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory I. Mashanov ◽  
Tatiana A. Nenasheva ◽  
Tatiana Mashanova ◽  
Catherine Maclachlan ◽  
Nigel J.M. Birdsall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Cardiac Tissue ◽  
Single Molecules ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Biological Macromolecules ◽  
Tissue Slices ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Mammalian Cell Lines

Recent advances in light microscopy allow individual biological macromolecules to be visualized in the plasma membrane and cytosol of live cells with nanometer precision and ∼10-ms time resolution. This allows new discoveries to be made because the location and kinetics of molecular interactions can be directly observed in situ without the inherent averaging of bulk measurements. To date, the majority of single-molecule imaging studies have been performed in either unicellular organisms or cultured, and often chemically fixed, mammalian cell lines. However, primary cell cultures and cell lines derived from multi-cellular organisms might exhibit different properties from cells in their native tissue environment, in particular regarding the structure and organization of the plasma membrane. Here, we describe a simple approach to image, localize, and track single fluorescently tagged membrane proteins in freshly prepared live tissue slices and demonstrate how this method can give information about the movement and localization of a G protein–coupled receptor in cardiac tissue slices. In principle, this experimental approach can be used to image the dynamics of single molecules at the plasma membrane of many different soft tissue samples and may be combined with other experimental techniques.

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