Pyrenedecanoic acid
cheryl@immune.med.utoronto.ca
Thu, 05 Oct 1995 09:02:31 EDT
Hello out there,
Does anyone have any experience with pyrenedecanoic acid as an indicator of
membrane fluidity? My understanding is that an increase in the ratio of
excimer to monomer, as measured at different wavelengths somewhat like Indo-1,
is a reflection of an increase in membrane fluidity. We do see this increase
in ratio when the cells are treated with a known fluidiser; however, there is
also an increase in the overall amount of monomer (and excimer of course). I
don't understand this. Cells are loaded with the dye as a "batch" and then
divided into two groups (treated and untreated). The autofluorescence of the
cells does not change as a function of treatment. I confess that I really don't
know exactly what the staining mechanism and dynamics are and perhaps this is
the key to understanding the problem. Can anyone shed some light?
Cheryl Smith
University of Toronto