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METHODS IN CELL PHYSIOLOGY

Single plasma membrane K⁺ channel detection by using dual-color quantum dot labeling

Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

Submitted 16 December 2005 ; accepted in final form 2 March 2006

K⁺ channels are widely expressed in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, where one of their key functions is to set the membrane potential. Many K⁺ channels are tetramers that share common architectural properties. The crystal structure of bacterial and mammalian K⁺ channels has been resolved and provides the basis for modeling their three-dimensional structure in different functional states. This wealth of information on K⁺ channel structure contrasts with the difficulties to visualize single K⁺ channel proteins in their physiological environment. We describe a method to identify single Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel molecules in the plasma membrane of migrating cells. Our method is based on dual-color labeling with quantum dots. We show that >90% of the observed quantum dots correspond to single K⁺ channel proteins. We anticipate that our method can be adopted to label any other ion channel in the plasma membrane on the single molecule level.

Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel; migration

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Schwab, P. Hanley, A. Fabian, and C. Stock Potassium Channels Keep Mobile Cells on the Go Physiology, August 1, 2008; 23(4): 212 - 220. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Nechyporuk-Zloy, P. Dieterich, H. Oberleithner, C. Stock, and A. Schwab Dynamics of single potassium channel proteins in the plasma membrane of migrating cells Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, April 1, 2008; 294(4): C1096 - C1102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]