Simultaneous Quantitation of Na+ and K+ in Single Normal and Cancer Cells Using a New Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe
2015
Li, Lu | Li, Ping | Fang, Juan | Li, Qingling | Xiao, Haibin | Zhou, Hui | Tang, Bo
Considering the important functions of cellular Na⁺ and K⁺ together with their cooperative efforts on various biological processes, it is significant to simultaneously detect Na⁺ and K⁺ at a single-cell level. Here, we present a novel method to discriminate and quantify simultaneously Na⁺ and K⁺ in single cells using a new near-infrared fluorescent probe associated with microchip electrophoresis. The fluorescent probe selectively responds to both Na⁺ and K⁺. The microchip electrophoresis allows accurate single-cell manipulation and effective distinction of Na⁺ and K⁺. Based on the method, the concentration of Na⁺ and K⁺ in single normal and cancer cells was compared, and the variation of Na⁺ and K⁺ in single cancer cells during the early stage of apoptotic volume decrease was monitored, which would help us to better understand the critical roles of Na⁺ and K⁺ in malignant cells and apoptosis. This method has paved a new way for the research of the synergistic function of Na⁺ and K⁺ in the regulation of various biological processes at a single-cell level.
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