title: Fluorescent probes to evaluate the physiological state and activity of microbial biocatalysts: a guide for prokaryotic and eukaryotic investigation.
abstract: Many fluorescent techniques are employed to evaluate the viability and activity of microbial cells used in biotechnology. These techniques are sometimes complex and the interpretation of results opened to misunderstanding. Moreover, new developments are constantly proposed especially concerning a more accurate evaluation of the state of the cells including eukaryotic microorganisms. This paper aims at presenting to biotechnologists unfamiliar with fluorescence the principles of these methods and the related possible pitfalls. It focuses on probes of the physical (integrity and fluidity) and energetical (intracellular pH and membrane potential) state of the cell membrane (bacterial and yeast cells) and presents also other probes (nucleic acids, respiration...) and new technical trends. The specificities of Gram-negative bacterial cells are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire GPMA, Université de Bourgogne, ENSBANA, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao-Hoang
authors.forename: Pierre-André
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marechal
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lê-Thanh
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gervais
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Waché
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D015003:Yeasts / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes