Visualization of membrane domains in Escherichia coli

作者：Itzhak Fishov, Conrad L. Woldringh · 发表于：Molecular Microbiology · 年份：1999 · DOI：10.1046/j.1365-2958.1999.01425.x · 被引用次数：209 · 研究领域：Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology、Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior、RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

Bacterial membrane and nucleoids were stained concurrently by the lipophilic styryl dye FM 4-64 [N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(6-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl) hexatrienyl)pyridinium dibromide] and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), respectively, and studied using fluorescence microscopy imaging. Observation of plasmolysed cells indicated that FM 4-64 stained the inner membrane preferentially. In live Escherichia coli pbpB cells and filaments, prepared on wet agar slabs, an FM 4-64 staining pattern developed in the form of dark bands. In dividing cells, the bands occurred mainly at the constriction sites and, in filaments, between partitioning nucleoids. The FM 4-64 pattern of dark bands in filaments was abolished after inhibiting protein synthesis with chloramphenicol. It is proposed that the staining patterns reflect putative membrane domains formed by DNA-membrane interactions and have functional implications in cell division.