Single Nanoparticle Tracking of Surface Ion Channels and Receptors in Brain Cells

Abstract

Neuronal communication requires a constant adjustment of the number and subtype of neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels at the plasma membrane. Although classical fluorescence ensemble approaches have provided valuable insights into cellular and molecular pathways, their inherent limitations (e.g., average behaviors, spatial resolution) have prompted neuroscientists to use and adapt other imaging approaches. Among these, single nanoparticle tracking offers a remarkable mean to explore, at the single neurotransmitter receptor and ion channel level, the behavior of these molecular actors in living brain cells. In this chapter, we describe the procedure and experimental steps necessary to perform single nanoparticle tracking of membrane neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels in living brain cells.