Polydiacetylene-labeled sensor cell system as a tool for studying membrane processes

Newly developed chromatic biomimetic membrane assays have been applied for studying the cellular plasmatic membrane. Specifically, we constructed vesicular lipid particles interspersed within reporter polydiacetylene domains that produce colorimetric changes and emit intense fluorescence following external perturbations of the lipid domains. The chromatic vesicles are employed both as membrane models in cell-free solutions, and also incorporated into the membrane of live cells—thereby functioning as localized membrane sensors on the cell surface. The analysis of new chromatic vesicles assay was specifically focused on the detection of changes in cell plasma membrane cholesterol environment. We also used PDA-labeled sensor cells for probing the interactions of the cell membrane with pharmaceutical substances. The data could be interpreted to distinguish among different modes of cell-surface perturbations, and provided insight into drug interactions with lipid bilayers.