title: HaloTag protein-mediated specific labeling of living cells with quantum dots.
abstract: Quantum dots emerge as an attractive alternative to small molecule fluorophores as fluorescent tags for in vivo cell labeling and imaging. This communication presents a method for specific labeling of live cells using quantum dots. The labeling is mediated by HaloTag protein expressed at the cell surface which forms a stable covalent adduct with its ligand (HaloTag ligand). The labeling can be performed in one single step with quantum dot conjugates that are functionalized with HaloTag ligand, or in two steps with biotinylated HaloTag ligand first and followed by streptavidin coated quantum dots. Live cell fluorescence imaging indicates that the labeling is specific and takes place at the cell surface. This HaloTag protein-mediated cell labeling method should facilitate the application of quantum dots for live cell imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road, P093, Mail code 5484, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Min-kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Hequan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Jianghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001710:Biotin / Q000737:chemistry; D019921:Biotinylation; D019556:COS Cells; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D001710:Biotin; D019809:Streptavidin