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Molecular rotors help to probe the viscosity inside plant cells

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July 21, 2020

In collaboration with the Biochemistry laboratory of Wageningen University, PhD candidate Lucile Michels and Prof. Dr. Ir. Joris Sprakel developed a toolbox of four fluorescent molecular rotors as microviscosity probes that target the cell wall, plasma membrane, cytosol and vacuole in plant cells and tissues. Combined with Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), these sensors are used to create spatially resolved microviscosity maps of cells, and provide insight into the mechanical regulation of cellular processes.

This work has been published in PNAS.