Quantum dots monitor TrkA receptor dynamics in the interior of neural PC12 cells

Can quantum dots (QDs) serve as physiologically relevant receptor probes in the interior of cells? We directly visualize endocytosis, redistribution, and shuttling of QD bound-TrkA receptors to PC12 neural processes and far-reaching growth cone tips. Internalized QDs are contained in microtubule-associated vesicles and possess transport properties that reflect TrkA receptor dynamics. This opens up new possibilities for the development of QD platforms as molecular tools to image biochemical signaling and transport cargo in the cell interior.