Amphipathic Fluorophores for Probing Cell Membrane Properties Demetrius Cummings University of California, Riverside
Outline… Background Experimental process Results and future goals
Background… Prestin Enhances electromotility Sound reception Other properties?
Fluorophores… Fluorescent component; multiple types Often used in diagnostics: tissues, macromolecules, diseases
Plasma Membrane…the “ Fluid Mosaic ” (Dowhan & Bogdanov, 2005) Amphipathic structure
The Goals… Synthesize an amphipathic dye for the purpose of binding to the plasma membrane. Monitor the photophysical properties of the dye and HEK cells in various conditions.
The Process…(part 1) Dye preparation Utilize HEK cells Analysis: photophysical properties Combine dye and cells Analysis: photophysical properties Analysis: photophysical properties Dye preparation Utilize HEK cells
Dye Synthesis…
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution… Halide-dependent Yields… --chloro- = 37% --bromo- = 97%
The Process…(part 2) Dye preparationUtilize HEK cells Analysis: photophysical properties Combine dye and cells Analysis: photophysical properties Analysis: photophysical properties
Results … Water (more polar solvent) V.S. Hexane (less polar solvent)
The Process…(part 3) Dye preparationUtilize HEK cells Analysis: photophysical properties Combine dye and cells Analysis: photophysical properties Analysis: photophysical properties
Low absorbance High incidence of light scattering
The Process…(part 4) Dye preparationUtilize HEK cells Analysis: photophysical properties Combine dye and cells Analysis: photophysical properties Analysis: photophysical properties
Blue shift evident in HEK cells with dye Location: less polar environment Results…
Summary… The efficiency and mechanism of the dye are halide-dependent. The absorbance varies directly with dye-solvent and cell-solvent concentration; the specific wavelengths of absorbance remains constant. Blue shift of the dye-HEK cell mix indicates binding to the less polar environment.
Future Research… Continue fluorescence analysis of HEK cells: excitation, emission, anisotropy Effect of dye on cells? Apply same procedure to cells transfected with prestin
Acknowledgements… Dr. Bahman Anvari Dr. Valentine Vullev Dr. Feng Qian Dr. Valentine Vullev’s lab Program coordinators