Accessible Synthetic Probes for Staining Actin inside Platelets and Megakaryocytes by Employing Lifeact Peptide. Issue 11 (15th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cardo, Lucia; Thomas, Steve G.; Mazharian, Alexandra; Pikramenou, Zoe; Rappoport, Joshua Z.; Hannon, Michael J.; Watson, Stephen P.
• Is Part Of: Chembiochem. Volume 16:Issue 11(2015)
• Page Start: 1680
• Page End: 1688
• Publication Date: 2015-06-15
• Subjects: Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1439-4227

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Lifeact is a 17‐residue peptide that can be employed in cell microscopy as a probe for F‐actin when fused to fluorescent proteins, but therefore is not suitable for all cell types. We have conjugated fluorescently labelled Lifeact to three different cell‐penetrating systems (a myristoylated carrier (myr), the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) and the cationic peptide TAT) as a strategy to deliver Lifeact into cells and developed new tools for actin staining with improved synthetic accessibility and low toxicity, focusing on their suitability in platelets and megakaryocytes. Using confocal microscopy, we characterised the cell distribution of the new hybrids in fixed cells, and found that both myr– and pHLIP–Lifeact conjugates provide efficient actin staining upon cleavage of Lifeact from the carriers, without affecting cell spreading. This new approach could facilitate the design of new tools for actin visualisation.</p> </abstract>