A quantum-dot nanocrystal study of GABAA receptor subunits in living cerebellar granule cells in culture.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals emerging as a new class of fluorescent labels with large brightness, multi color fluorescence emission and resistance against photobleaching. Here we have used QDs as biological markers in an immunofluorescence approach. In this work GABA(A )receptors of rat cerebellar granule cells have been studied and in particular we have visualized the beta(2/3) and delta subunits in live cells. The results obtained were compared to those gathered with conventional probes. The images of the delta subunit in living cells appear to correspond to those expected for a subunit part of GABA(A )receptors mediating tonic inhibition in the granules cell bodies.