CHOLERA TOXIN SUBUNIT B CONJUGATED QUANTUM DOTS FOR LIVE CELL LABELLING

摘要

Conjugates were developed for internal labelling and tracking of live cells having cell surface gangliosides. The conjugate is comprised of at least one, and preferably up to three Vibrio cholerae toxin subunits B, preferably in the pentameric form, attached to a quantum dot. The conjugates may be used as luminescent labels in a reagent system for labelling live cells. The conjugates are internalized into small vesicles dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. A method of labelling and method of detecting cells having cell surface gangliosides are described. The conjugates are particularly useful for the general labelling of mammalian cells.