Work

Graphene Quantum Dots as Universal Fluorophores and Their Use in Revealing Regulated Trafficking of Insulin Receptors in Adipocytes

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) hold great promise as a new class of fluorophores for bioimaging, owing to their remarkable physicochemical properties including tunable photoluminescence, excellent photostability, and biocompatibility. Despite their highly anticipated potentials, GQDs have yet to be used to specifically label and track molecular targets involved in dynamic cellular processes in live cells. Here, we demonstrate that GQDs can serve as universal fluorophores for bioimaging because they can be readily conjugated with a wide range of biomolecules while preserving their functionalities. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, insulin-conjugated GQDs have been synthesized and utilized for specific labeling and dynamic tracking of insulin receptors in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our experiments reveal, for the first time, that the internalization and recycling of insulin receptors in adipocytes are oppositely regulated by apelin and TNFα, which may contribute to the regulations of these two cytokines in insulin sensitivity.

Source: ACS Nano

DOI: 10.1021/nn4023137

Authors: Xin Ting Zheng, Aung Than, Arundithi Ananthanaraya, Dong-Hwan Kim, Peng Chen

Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Language: English

Topic: Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Ministry of Education, India