STED nanoscopy reveals molecular details of cholesterol- and cytoskeleton-modulated lipid interactions in living cells.

ABSTRACT: Details about molecular membrane dynamics in living cells, such as lipid-protein interactions, are often hidden from the observer because of the limited spatial resolution of conventional far-field optical microscopy. The superior spatial resolution of stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy can provide new insights into this process. The application of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) in focal spots continuously tuned down to 30 nm in diameter distinguishes between free and anomalous molecular diffusion due to, for example, transient binding of lipids to other membrane constituents, such as lipids and proteins. We compared STED-FCS data recorded on various fluorescent lipid analogs in the plasma membrane of living mammalian cells. Our results demonstrate details about th

SUBMITTER: Mueller V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3183802 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature