title: Fucoidan suppresses endocytosis in cultured HeLa cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of fucoidan on endocytosis in cultured HeLa cells: in vitro using live cell imaging. METHODS: A confocal scanning system and an incubation imaging system were used to: observe the effects of fucoidan on the initial (6 h) stages of endocytosis using the fl uorescent probe FM1-43 and inorganic fl uorescent quantum dot (Q-dots). RESULTS: According to the time-lapse images, fucoidan inhibited the: formation of endocytic vesicles in HeLa cells, in which the FM1-43 dye was entrapped. Fucoidan also had an inhibitory effect on the uptake of the Q-dots by the cell membranes of HeLa cells. CONCLUSION: It was concluded: that fucoidan suppresses Ca(2+)-dependent endocytosis in HeLa cells, which may be caused by its inhibitory -effects on agonist-induced Ca(2+) responses.
authors.affiliation: The laboratory of Cell Imaging, Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450002, China, kevin5me@yahoo.com.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shui-Bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terakawa