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Hi all,
	This is not a "confocal" question but rather a cell 
bio/microscopy related one. Nevertheless, I am hoping someone will be 
able to answer.

	I co-teach a cell biology lab course where students learn how 
to use conventional epi fluorescence and video microscopy. We have a 
variety of "cells in action" labs for them to do, one of these being 
endocytosis. As markers, e have used labeled-transferrin and also DiI 
labeled LDL, with the idea being  that the transferrin is recycled 
back to the plasma membrane whereas the LDL moves into lysosomes. 
While the transferrin labeling seems to work more or less as 
expected, results with the DiI LDL are erratic. Sometimes there is no 
labeling at all, and we never have seen what looks like deep internal 
labeling in putative lysosomes.

	We plan to troubleshoot later this summer but as none of us 
have studied endocytosis, we have no first hand experience. I am 
wondering if anyone out there knows of a tried and true endocytosis 
cell bio lab? Or perhaps knows about some tricks for handling DiI 
LDL. Or perhaps it is a matter of a good cell line -- we work 
typically with a 3T3 fibroblasts or LLCPK epithelial cells (with 
equally dismal results for the DiI LDL endocytosis).

	Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

	As ever
		Tobias Baskin
-- 
       _      ____          __   ____
      /  \   /          / \    /   \ \        Tobias I. Baskin
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