Selective Fluorescence Labeling of Lipids in Living Cells

摘要

Lipids play important roles in a wide variety of cellular processes, from membrane fusion to signal transduction, and are involved in the formation and transport of microdo-mains.However, their analysis in living cells is complicated by their extremely dynamic behavior.As intermediates in metabolism, they are frequently converted into other lipid species or free fatty acids.They are components of cellular membranes and quickly diffuse from one membrane compartment to another.Furthermore, the analysis of lipid fluxes is often problematic as a result of the similarity of lipid structures.A considerable amount of lipid research relies on the use of tagged lipid analogues.However, given the size of an average lipid molecule, even small probes, such as fluorophores, can have a dramatic effect on the properties of the lipid, particularly if lipid trafficking and sorting are to be investigated.Hence, the labeled lipid should resemble its natural counterpart as closely as possible.The modification should preferably be a small hydrophobic group.