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Measurement of Cell Membrane Fluidity by Laurdan GP: Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy

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Antibiotics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1520))

Abstract

Membrane fluidity is a critical parameter of cellular membranes which cells continuously strive to maintain within a viable range. An interference with the correct membrane fluidity state can strongly inhibit cell function. Triggered changes in membrane fluidity have been postulated to contribute to the mechanism of action of membrane targeting antimicrobials, but the corresponding analyses have been hampered by the absence of readily available analytical tools. Here, we provide detailed protocols that allow straightforward measurement of antibiotic compound-triggered changes in membrane fluidity both in vivo and in vitro.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Funds (ISSF), and by Newcastle University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Biology, Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, Germany

    Kathi Scheinpflug & Oxana Krylova

  2. Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Henrik Strahl

Authors
  1. Kathi Scheinpflug
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  2. Oxana Krylova
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  3. Henrik Strahl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Henrik Strahl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine, Microbial Bioactive Compounds, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Peter Sass

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Scheinpflug, K., Krylova, O., Strahl, H. (2017). Measurement of Cell Membrane Fluidity by Laurdan GP: Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy. In: Sass, P. (eds) Antibiotics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1520. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6634-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6634-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6632-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6634-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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