Single-molecule imaging of L-type Ca2+ channels in live cells

Harms, G.S.; Cognet, L.; Lommerse, P.H.M.; Blab, G.A.; Kahr, H.; Gamsjager, R.; ... ; Schmidt, T. (2001)

Article / Letter to editor

L-type Ca(2+) channels are an important means by which a cell regulates the Ca(2+) influx into the cytosol on electrical stimulation. Their structure and dynamics in the plasma membrane, including their molecular mobility and aggregation, is of key interest for the in-depth understanding of their function. Construction of a fluorescent variant by fusion of the yellow-fluorescent protein to the ion channel and expression in a human cell line allowed us to address its dynamic embedding in the membrane at the level of individual channels in vivo. We report on the observation of individual fluorescence-labeled human cardiac L-type Ca(2+) channels using wide-field fluorescence microscopy in living cells. Our fluorescence and electrophysiological data indicate that L-type Ca(2+) channels tend to form larger aggregates which are mobile in the plasma membrane.

• All authors: Harms, G.S.; Cognet, L.; Lommerse, P.H.M.; Blab, G.A.; Kahr, H.; Gamsjager, R.; Spaink, H.P.; Soldatov, N.M.; Romanin, C.; Schmidt, T.
• Date: 2001-11-30
• Journal: Biophysical Journal
• Volume: 81
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 2639 - 2646
• DOI: doi:10.1016/S0006-3495(01)75907-3