Streptavidin interfacing as a general strategy to localize fluorescent membrane tension probes in cells.

ABSTRACT: To image the mechanical properties of biological membranes, twisted push-pull mechanophores that respond to membrane tension by planarization in the ground state have been introduced recently. For their application in biological systems, these so-called fluorescent flippers will have to be localized to specific environments of cellular membranes. In this report, we explore streptavidin as a versatile connector between biotinylated flipper probes and biotinylated targets. Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy with LUVs and GUVs reveal the specific conditions needed for desthiobiotin-loaded streptavidin to deliver biotinylated flippers selectively to biotinylated membranes. Selectivity for biotinylated plasma membranes is also observed in HeLa cells, confirming the compatibility of this s

SUBMITTER: Goujon A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6333237 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature