TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular probes to visualize the location, organization and dynamics of lipids
AU - Maekawa, Masashi
AU - Fairn, Gregory D.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Cellular lipids play crucial roles in the cell, including in energy storage, the formation of cellular membranes, and in signaling and vesicular trafficking. To understand the functions and characteristics of lipids within cells, various methods to image lipids have been established. In this Commentary, we discuss the four main types of molecular probes that have significantly contributed to our understanding of the cell biology of lipids. In particular, genetically encoded biosensors and antibodies will be discussed, and how they have been used extensively with traditional light and electron microscopy to determine the subcellular localization of lipids and their spatial and temporal regulation. We highlight some of the recent studies that have investigated the distribution of lipids and their ability to cluster using super-resolution and electron microscopy. We also examine methods for analyzing the movement and dynamics of lipids, including single-particle tracking (SPT), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Although the combination of these lipid probes and the various microscopic techniques is very powerful, we also point out several potential caveats and limitations. Finally, we discuss the need for new probes for a variety of phospholipids and cholesterol.
AB - Cellular lipids play crucial roles in the cell, including in energy storage, the formation of cellular membranes, and in signaling and vesicular trafficking. To understand the functions and characteristics of lipids within cells, various methods to image lipids have been established. In this Commentary, we discuss the four main types of molecular probes that have significantly contributed to our understanding of the cell biology of lipids. In particular, genetically encoded biosensors and antibodies will be discussed, and how they have been used extensively with traditional light and electron microscopy to determine the subcellular localization of lipids and their spatial and temporal regulation. We highlight some of the recent studies that have investigated the distribution of lipids and their ability to cluster using super-resolution and electron microscopy. We also examine methods for analyzing the movement and dynamics of lipids, including single-particle tracking (SPT), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Although the combination of these lipid probes and the various microscopic techniques is very powerful, we also point out several potential caveats and limitations. Finally, we discuss the need for new probes for a variety of phospholipids and cholesterol.
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U2 - 10.1242/jcs.150524
DO - 10.1242/jcs.150524
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 25179600
AN - SCOPUS:84911978116
SN - 0021-9533
VL - 127
SP - 4801
EP - 4812
JO - Journal of Cell Science
JF - Journal of Cell Science
IS - 22
ER -