Measurement of the lateral mobility of cell surface components in single living cells by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching |
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Authors: | K Jacobson Z Derzko E-S Wu Y Hou G Poste |
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Abstract: | The use of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) techniques to monitor the lateral mobility of plant lectin-receptor complexes on the surface of single, living mammalian cells is described in detail. FRAP measurements indicate that over 75% of the wheat germ agglutinin receptor (WGA-receptor) complexes on the surface of human embryo fibroblasts are mobile. These WGA-receptor complexes diffuse laterally (as opposed to flow) on the cell surface with a diffusion coefficient in the range of 2 × 10?11 to 2 × 10?10 cm2/sec. Both the percentage of mobile WGA-receptor complexes and the mean diffusion coefficient of these complexes are higher than that obtained from earlier FRAP measurements of the mobility of concanavalin A-receptor (Con A-receptor) complexes in a variety of cell types. The possible reasons for the differing mobilities of WGA and Con A receptors are discussed. |
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Keywords: | FRAP lectins wheat germ agglutinin concanavalin A lateral mobility cell surface |
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