Proteins present on the surface of a cell play a vital role in cell survival, especially in nutrient transport, gene expression, and energy transfer.
Picture of a cell membrane
They control the exchange of substances and nutrients across the cell membrane both internally and externally. EPFL researchers have identified a method to view the exchanges as well as the cell membrane composition using fluorescence microscopy.
This method helped the researchers to precisely count the number of proteins found on the cell surface. This counting enabled them to obtain important information on cell evolution and its interactions. This method allows in identifying the reaction of cells to an external agent or an induced drug. Moreover, it enables to understand why a particular cell’s behavior is different from other cells.
The study is based on the information obtained from a high-resolution fluorescence microscopy technique known as photo activated localization microscopy (PALM). This technique follows the concept of capturing emitted light by natural means or by joining with a fluorescent substance or a fluorochrome using specific nanometer scale structures.
After placing the biological sample under the photo activated microscope, the molecules are illuminated by the researchers with a sequence of continuous flashes. The collection of images leads to extremely high-resolution images which enable the researches to identify the protein’s location at a very small scale.
The Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology is experimenting to quantify the elements located in the cell membrane in an easy way and to improve the application of this technology. They are particularly researching on a photoactivatable protein known as mEos2 and their journey into the cell world has just started.
Source: http://actu.epfl.ch/