title: Labeling membranes with fluorescent phosphatidylethanolamine.
abstract: The phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) can be conjugated via its head group to a number of fluorophores, including rhodamine, BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene; 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene), and NBD (N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-yl)). These probes can be used to label biological membranes and to study phospholipids within membranes. Rhodamine-PE, which does not readily exchange between lipid bilayers, has also been used in membrane fusion assays. Rhodamine-DHPE (lissamine rhodamine B 1,2-dihexyldecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, triethylammonium salt) and NBD-PE have been used together in resonance energy transfer studies in membranes. This protocol describes the labeling of membranes with fluorescent PE.
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chazotte
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine