Protocol

Labeling the Components of the Plasma Membrane with Fluorescent Dyes for Imaging

This protocol was adapted from "Nonimmunological Fluorescent Labeling of Cellular Structures," Chapter 5, in Basic Methods in Microscopy (eds. Spector and Goldman). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2006.

INTRODUCTION

The eukaryotic cell has evolved to compartmentalize its functions and transport various metabolites among cellular compartments. Therefore, in cell biology, the study of organization and structure/function relationships are of great importance. The plasma membrane provides the essential dynamic boundary and a vital selective interface between the cell compartment and its environment. This article describes four methods for labeling the plasma membrane with fluorescent probes. Each method labels a distinct class of membrane molecules.