Site-directed photochemical disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by actin-binding Rose Bengal-conjugates

The in situ light-induced, non-enzymatic digestion of cytoskeletal actin by a xanthene dye conjugated to heavy meromyosin, anti-actin antibodies and/or anti-myosin antibodies is reported. The dye Rose Bengal was conjugated to either anti-actin antibodies, anti-myosin antibodies or heavy meromyosin. Under our experimental conditions, visible light induced the non-enzymatic breakdown of cytoskeletal actin when mammalian tissue culture cells were probed either with Rose Bengal-conjugated anti-actin and/or anti-myosin antibodies. Similar results were obtained when tissue culture cells were probed with Rose Bengal-conjugated heavy meromyosin before irradiation with visible light. The in situ photochemical reaction depended on the presence of actin-binding Rose Bengal-conjugates.