Visualization of ligand-induced dopamine D_2S and D_2L receptor internalization by TIRF microscopy.

ABSTRACT: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including the dopamine receptors, represent a group of important pharmacological targets. Upon agonist binding, GPCRs frequently undergo internalization, a process that is known to attenuate functional responses upon prolonged exposure to agonists. In this study, internalization was visualized by means of total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy at a level of discrete single events near the plasma membrane with high spatial resolution. A novel method has been developed to determine the relative extent of internalized fluorescent receptor-ligand complexes by comparative fluorescence quantification in living CHO cells. The procedure entails treatment with the reducing agent sodium borohydride, which converts cyanine-based fluorescent ligan

SUBMITTER: Tabor A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5589927 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature