Detection of Internalization and Oligomerization of Membrane Receptors Using Coiled-coil Fluorescence Labeling Method

摘要

The specific labeling of proteins in living cells using a genetically encodable tag and a small synthetic probe targeted to the tag has several advantages over widely used larger fluorescent proteins. We recently developed a quick labeling method using a high-affinity heterodimeric coiled-coil formation between the E3 tag (EIAALEK)3 attached to the target protein and the K4 probe (KIAALKE)4 labeled with a fluorophore. Here we show that the confocal imaging of receptors using this method is useful for detailed analysis of receptor internalization and oligomerization.