Mapping Receptor Density on Live Cells by Using Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Sensitive surveying: Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was used to study receptor density and to monitor ligand–receptor interactions on live cell membranes by the introduction of fluorescently marked aptamers, which specifically bind to certain cell‐surface receptors (see schematic repres...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemistry : a European journal 2009-01, Vol.15 (21), p.5327-5336
Main Authors: Chen, Yan, Munteanu, Alina C., Huang, Yu‐Fen, Phillips, Joseph, Zhu, Zhi, Mavros, Michael, Tan, Weihong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aptamers
Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry
Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Membrane - metabolism
fluorescence spectroscopy
Humans
Ligands
ligand–receptor interactions
Protein Binding
receptors
Receptors, Cell Surface - chemistry
Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism
SELEX Aptamer Technique - methods
Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods
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Summary:Sensitive surveying: Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was used to study receptor density and to monitor ligand–receptor interactions on live cell membranes by the introduction of fluorescently marked aptamers, which specifically bind to certain cell‐surface receptors (see schematic representation; FITC: fluorescein isothiocyanate). Study of the density, spatial distribution, and molecular interactions of receptors on the cell membrane provides the knowledge required to understand cellular behavior and biological functions, as well as to discover, design, and screen novel therapeutic agents. However, the mapping of receptor distribution and the monitoring of ligand–receptor interactions on live cells in a spatially and temporally ordered manner are challenging tasks. In this paper, we apply fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to map receptor densities on live cell membranes by introducing fluorescently marked aptamer molecules, which specifically bind to certain cell‐surface receptors. The femtoliter‐sized (0.4 fL) observation volume created by FCS allows fluorescent‐aptamer detection down to 2 molecules and appears to be an ideal and highly sensitive biophysical tool for studying molecular interactions on live cells. Fluorophore‐labeled aptamers were chosen for receptor recognition because of their high binding affinity and specificity. Aptamer sgc8, generated for specific cell recognition by a process called cell systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, was determined by FCS to have a binding affinity in the picomolar range (dissociation constant Kd=790±150 pM) with its target membrane receptor, human protein tyrosine kinase‐7 (PTK7), a potential cancer biomarker. We then constructed a cellular model and applied this aptamer–receptor interaction to estimate receptor densities and distributions on the cell surface. Specifically, different expression levels of PTK7 were studied by using human leukemia CCRF‐CEM cells (1300±190 receptors μm−2) and HeLa cervical cancer cells (550±90 receptors μm−2). Competition studies with excess nonlabeled aptamers and proteinase treatment studies proved the validity of the density‐estimation approach. With its intrinsic advantages of direct measurement, high sensitivity, fast analysis, and single‐cell measurement, this FCS density‐estimation approach holds potential for future applications in molecular‐interaction studies and density estimations for subcellular structures and membrane re
ISSN:0947-6539
1521-3765
DOI:10.1002/chem.200802305