Live Imaging Assay for Assessing the Roles of Ca²⁺ and Sphingomyelinase in the Repair of Pore-forming Toxin Wounds

Live imaging of cells exposed to the lipophilic dye FM1-43 allows precise determination of the kinetics by which pore-forming toxins are removed from the plasma membrane. This is a sensitive assay that can be used to assess requirements for Ca²⁺, sphingomyelinase and other factors on plasma membrane repair.