抄録
Organization of myosin filaments in living smooth muscle cells is thought to dynamically change during relaxation-contraction cycles. New experimental methods with tracking movement of single smooth muscle myosin (SMM) molecules in isolated muscle tissues have been requested to evaluate dynamics of filamentous structure in vivo. In the present study, we tested whether Qdots (quantum dots) conjugated with anti-SMM monoclonal antibody is capable to track single SMM molecules movement in smooth muscles from guinea pig taenia caeci. Qdots are inorganic nanocrystals that possess unique luminescent properties; their fluorescence emission is stable and tuned by varying the particle size or composition. Using laser fluorescence microscope and high-sensitivity camera, we observed luminescence of single Qdots particles. In Triton X-100 skinned preparations, we detected number of Qdots particles not only around the cell surface but also inside of the cell. When Qdots was not conjugated with anti with anti-SMM antibody, the Qdots particles in Triton X-100 skinned preparations were detected only around the cell surface. These results suggested that we really detected luminescence originated from Qdots particles which bound with single SMM molecules. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S66]
