Labeling the Golgi Apparatus with BODIPY-FL-Ceramide (C5-DMB-ceramide) for Imaging

INTRODUCTIONThe eukaryotic cell has evolved to compartmentalize its functions and transport various metabolites among cellular compartments. Therefore, in cell biology, the study of organization and structure/function relationships are of great importance. The Golgi apparatus is composed of a series of flattened, disk-shaped cisternae typically located near the cell nucleus. It is thought that the Golgi may be a principal organizer of macromolecular traffic in the cell because many molecules, such as secreted proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, and plasma membrane glycoproteins, pass through the Golgi during their maturation. In this protocol, fluorescent probes of the Golgi make use of this function to allow labeling of the Golgi.