Malfunctioning serotonin receptors are involved in the pathology of many psychological diseases. One subtype of serotonin receptors, 5-HT1B, has been implicated in decreased membrane expression in post-mortem hippocampal tissue samples of subjects diagnosed with unipolar depression. Therefore, we investigated the membrane expression of 5-HT1B with treatment of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In order to observe receptor trafficking in response to SSRI treatments, we utilized InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) for single-molecule fluorescence imaging of receptor trafficking. QDs exhibit high photostability, making them ideal fluorophores for single-molecule imaging. We have modified QDs through a multiple-step bioconjugation reaction to synthesize probes with extremely high affinity for 5-HT1B. We hope that these studies will help to unravel the molecular basis of psychological disorders and produce more efficacious treatments.

Single-molecule imaging of serotonin receptor trafficking using quantum dots

255th National Meeting (2018)

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