Diffusion of Water Soluble Spin Labels in the Aqueous Phase of Mammalian Cells
Abstract
A technique using small water soluble spin labeled molecules was developed to measure diffusion and viscosity in mammalian cell cytoplasm. The noncytotoxic molecules freely entered the cells. The signal of extracellular material was quenched with a broadening agent, NiCl2. The movement of the intracellular molecules, both rotational and translational, is determined by the cell cytoplasm microenvironment. This microenvironment consists of many diffusion barriers such as organelles, microfilaments and microtubules. The movements of spin labels in model systems such as solutions of various viscosities or matrices of defined small spaces, were used to interpret the movement of these same molecules in cells. Both growing and quiescent 3T3 fibroblasts and their SV40 virus transformed counterparts were tested as were cells treated with drugs which can change the cell microenvironment. Changes in growth state and cytoplasmic environment caused either a more free or a more restricted state in the cytoplasm as detected by the motion of the spin label molecules. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 15, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA108873
Entities
People
- Alec D. Keith
- Andrea M. Mastro
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University