[Fluorescent cholesterol derivatives in studies of membranes and lipoproteins]

Abstract

The pathways of fluorescent chromophores introduction into the cholesterol molecule are reviewed and physicochemical, optical properties and biological identity of fluorescent cholesterol derivatives (FCD) to the natural analogues are briefly characterized. Methods of the FCD incorporation into biological objects are discussed. The main part of the review is devoted to the use of FCD to investigate the model and biological membranes, blood plasma lipoproteins and their interactions with cells. The first attempts of the FCD application in the study of sterol-carrier proteins are discussed.