Fluorescence Probes Unravel Asymmetric Structure of Membranes

摘要: In the past decade fluorescence probe molecules have become increasingly useful in unraveling asymmetric distribution of proteins, lipids, and sterols biological membranes. The intrinsic sensitivity ability to discriminate between extremely short-lived membrane events provide methodology with distinct advantages over NMR, ESR, X-ray scattering, infrared spectroscopy, calorimetry, optical rotary dispersion-circular dichroism (Badley, 1976). Advances microscopy such as photobleaching recovery (Peters et al., 1974; Edidin Fambrough, 1973; Axelrod 1976), lifetime determination by phase modulation or photon counting (Ware, 1971; Weber, 1981; Isenberg, 1975), computer-centered spectrofluorimetry (Holland 1973, 1977; Christman 1980, Wampler, 1976) greatly enhanced utility asymmetry. An evaluation structure membranes requires recognition two possible distributions components either plane (lateral, horizontal) normal (transbilayer, vertical). Both these aspects may important physiological consequences detailed herein.