One-pot single step to label microtubule with MPA-capped CdTe quantum dots

Author(s)

Oliveira, Daniel ^[1] ; de Melo, Fernando Menegatti ^[1] ; Toma, Henrique E. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Micron; v. 108, p. 19-23, MAY 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The kinesin-microtubule pair has attracted much attention in recent years due to their promising use in the development of synthetic nanotransport machines. One of the challenges to study such system is how to observe the motility of either kinesin or microtubule. The usual technique for observation of the molecular machinery pair is by fluorescence microscopy, where fluorescent probes are bound to one, or both species, through a biotin-avidin linker. Here, the use of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) capped cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) as a direct fluorescent labeling agent to microtubule biomolecules is reported. QDs are able to not only bind to microtubules in vitro, but also to fluorescently label them in the red spectral region. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies showed the binding of synthesized QDs to microtubules, while quantum dots-labeled microtubules were successfully visualized with fluorescence microscopy. It is believed QDs adsorbs to the microtubule surface mainly through the coordination of Cd with histidine, cysteine and methionine residues, as well as through interactions of the nanocrystal's carboxylated surface with free amino groups on microtubules. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/24725-4 - Supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology
• Grantee: Henrique Eisi Toma
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/01271-3 - Development of Molecular Machines Based on the Kinesin Motor Protein
• Grantee: Daniel Camargo de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral