title: Measurement of Cell Membrane Fluidity by Laurdan GP: Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy.
abstract: Membrane fluidity is a critical parameter of cellular membranes which cells continuously strive to maintain within a viable range. An interference with the correct membrane fluidity state can strongly inhibit cell function. Triggered changes in membrane fluidity have been postulated to contribute to the mechanism of action of membrane targeting antimicrobials, but the corresponding analyses have been hampered by the absence of readily available analytical tools. Here, we provide detailed protocols that allow straightforward measurement of antibiotic compound-triggered changes in membrane fluidity both in vivo and in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Biology, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scheinpflug
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Biology, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Oxana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Krylova
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. h.strahl@ncl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strahl
mesh_terms: D015081:2-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007848:Laurates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007848:Laurates; D015081:2-Naphthylamine; C065580:laurdan
keywords: Fatty acid disorder; Laurdan; Lipid adaptation; Lipid domains; Lipid packing; Membrane fluidity; Membrane targeting antimicrobials; Membrane viscosity