Intracellular localization of 12-O-3-N-dansylamino TPA in C3H/10T1/2 mouse cell line

Abstract
The fluorescent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) analogue dansyl-TPA allowed the distribution of fluorescent molecules to be visualized in living mouse fibroblasts. The entry of dansyl-TPA into cells occurred within millisecond time scale and was found largely energy independent. Dansyl-TPA was shown to stain the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and nuclear membrane. In addition, dansyl-TPA fluorescence was found to parallel that obtained with rhodamine-conjugated anti-α tubulin. The intracellular location of the dansyl-TPA fluorescence can be taken into account to explain the pleiotropic action of TPA in the cells.