Sundara Rajan S., Vu T.Q.
Oregon Health and Science University, US
Keywords: drug, ligand, neuron, quantum dot, receptor
The mechanisms by which cell-surface receptors interact with their specific ligands to initiate signaling cascades is a dynamic process which involves ligand-receptor binding, transport, and clearance across and within the cell plasma membrane. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophin that plays a significant role in neural survival, growth and regeneration. The spatial and temporal dynamics of NGF-TrkA receptor binding has been shown to be important in regulating different aspects of neurotrophin signal transduction. However, the process by which growth factor-receptors complexes are shuttled from distal axons to neuronal cell bodies is still unclear and an active area of investigation. Organic fluorophores currently used for locating receptors on neurons suffer from the drawbacks of limited spatial resolution and photobleaching. Nanometersized, photostable quantum dots (QDs) offer the potential to track NGF-TrkA dynamics with high-resolution (molecular detection) over long periods of time. Antibody conjugated QDs have been used for labeling and tracking single receptors [1, 2]. In addition, ligand-conjugated QDs retain their activity and bind to receptors [3, 4]. In this study we employ NGF-QD ligand conjugates [3], as well as anti-TrkA-QD antibody conjugates to visualize NGF-TrkA spatio-temporal dynamics in the neuronal PC12 cell line.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2006 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: May 7, 2006
Pages: 466 - 469
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Medical & Biotech
Topic: Biomaterials
ISBN: 0-9767985-7-3