title: Determination of fluorescent probes localization in membranes by nonradiative energy transfer.
abstract: One of the new methods of studying the structure and dimensions of biological membranes is based on the Förster's nonradiative energy transfer between special molecules, the so-called 'membrane fluorescent probes'. Further development of the approach is presented in this article. It consists of the combined use of the time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence data with subsequent computer simulation of the energy transfer in membranes. Anthracene as an energy donor, and 4-p-(dimethylamino)styryl-N-dodecylpyridinium (DSP-12) or 4-dimethylaminochalcone (DMC) as energy acceptors were bound with artificial phospholipid membrane vesicles ('liposomes'). The synchrotron radiation was used as an impulse source for the excitation light. The steady-state fluorescence data permit the area of possible probe localization in membranes to be distinguished, while the kinetic data allow them to be narrowed significantly. There is a good agreement between the obtained localization and our present-day knowledge of lipid bilayer structure. The accuracy of the method is ca. several Angströms.
authors.affiliation: Lebedev Physical Institute, Academy of Sciences of U.S.S.R., Moscow.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Dobretsov
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kurek
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Machov
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Syrejshchikova
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Yakimenko
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes; D004735:Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008081:Liposomes; D008433:Mathematics; D008566:Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008081:Liposomes; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C034020:anthracene