Fluorescence Digital Image Gallery

Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Epithelial Cells (MDCK)

Clathrin is a protein centrally involved in the formation of the membrane-bound cellular packages known as vesicles. Composed of three heavy chains and three light chains, clathrin exists in the shape of a triskelion, a structure with three bent legs radiating from a central point. During vesicle formation, clathrin complexes are found assembled into polyhedral lattices, often referred to as clathrin baskets. The precise mechanisms involved in the formation of clathrin baskets are not yet known, nor are the exact mechanisms associated with the removal of the lattice, though both areas are currently being intensely researched. Studies have convincingly shown, however, that clathrin coats are involved in the process of protein sorting and that an enzyme known as uncoating ATPase is central to removing the lattices from vesicles.

Alexa Fluor dyes were employed to visualize distribution of clathrin and the peroxisomal membrane protein 70 (PMP 70) in the culture of Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells illustrated above. After the immunofluorescence reactions, the cells were counterstained with Hoechst 33342 to reveal the location of the nuclei. Images were recorded in grayscale with a QImaging Retiga Fast-EXi camera system coupled to an Olympus BX-51 microscope equipped with bandpass emission fluorescence filter optical blocks provided by Omega Optical. During the processing stage, individual image channels were pseudocolored with RGB values corresponding to each of the fluorophore emission spectral profiles.

View a larger image of the Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial (MDCK) cells.

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