This article describes a method to visualize formation of an HIV-1 envelope-induced virological synapse on glass supported planar bilayers by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. The method can also be combined with immunofluorescence staining to detect activation and redistribution of signaling molecules that occur during HIV-1 envelope-induced virological synapse formation.
Prins, K. C., Vasiliver-Shamis, G., Cammer, M., Depoil, D., Dustin, M. L., Hioe, C. E. Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers. J. Vis. Exp. (61), e3757, doi:10.3791/3757 (2012).