Measuring the Viscosity of the Escherichia coli Plasma Membrane Using Molecular Rotors.

ABSTRACT: The viscosity is a highly important parameter within the cell membrane, affecting the diffusion of small molecules and, hence, controlling the rates of intracellular reactions. There is significant interest in the direct, quantitative assessment of membrane viscosity. Here we report the use of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of the molecular rotor BODIPY C10 in the membranes of live Escherichia coli bacteria to permit direct quantification of the viscosity. Using this approach, we investigated the viscosity in live E. coli cells, spheroplasts, and liposomes made from E. coli membrane extracts. For live cells and spheroplasts, the viscosity was measured at both room temperature (23°C) and the E. coli growth temperature (37°C), while the membrane extract liposomes were studied over

SUBMITTER: Mika JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5052448 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature