磷脂模型膜的时间分辨纳秒荧光光谱的研究

叙述了用时间分辨率纳秒荧光技术研究大豆磷脂或合成磷脂模型膜（脂质体）的物理状态变化与荧光寿命以及时间分辨各向异性测量参数变化相关性的实验结果。用荧光探剂ＭＣ５４０标记模型膜的结果表明,荧光寿命（τ）的变化与脂质／探剂比例、磷脂组成、磷脂的极性头部、脂肪酸酰链长度等有关。用ＤＰＨ（１,６－ｄｉｐｈｅｎｙｌ－１,３,５－ｈｅｘａｔｒｉｅｎｅ）标记磷脂模型膜的时间分辨各向异性分析结果表明,序参数（Ｓ）、     

一种毫微秒荧光谱去卷积处理方法及其在生物膜研究中的应用

本文介绍了在大分子荧光寿命测量中,为消除测量系统响应时间的影响,对荧光谱进行去卷积处理的一种方法.该方法由实测的响应函数和荧光函数计算出响应矩阵和荧光矩阵,再用单指数函数拟合实测荧光谱的尾部,用迭代法求解.方法比较简单,也比较实用.我们用自制的NSY-1毫微秒荧光谱仪及所设计的微机程序,测试了荧光探剂Merocyanine 540(MC540)标记的脂质体以及重设线粒体H—ATP酶脂酶体的荧光寿命ι.它们的寿命分别为1.63ns和1.30ns.这一明显差别提示测量荧光寿命可作为研究生物膜膜脂—蛋白质相互作用的一种手段.     

可视化动缘探测系统检测心肌细胞舒缩功能

目的:分离成年大鼠心室肌细胞,利用可视化动缘探测系统检测其收缩/舒张功能.方法:常规酶解法分离制备钙耐受心肌细胞;用Ca2 荧光探剂fura-2/AM(0.5μmol/L)负载心肌细胞30 min(25℃)后,以含氧台氏液灌流并予电场刺激(0.5 Hz,5 ms),采用动缘探测系统检测心肌细胞收缩/舒张功能及细胞内荧光信号变化.结果:可视化动缘探测系统可实时同步观察和记录心肌细胞机械功能和细胞内钙瞬变变化,并可计算得到细胞收缩/舒张和钙瞬变的变化幅度、时程及速率等一系列指标,从而直接反映细胞水平的心肌功能改变.结论:可视化动缘探测系统为人们提供了一个在单心肌细胞水平探讨心肌肌源性功能及其改变的新方法,是当今心血管研究的一项重要技术.     

SH—SY5Y细胞的钙缓冲研究

目的：研究SH－SY5Y神经杂交瘤细胞的钙缓冲能力。方法：通过膜片钳手段,测量未分化的SH－SY5Y细胞钙离子通道电流;并应用显微荧光测量游离钙离子浓度和高钾去极化的方法,研究胞内Ca^2 浓度上升后浓度恢复的动力学过程。结果：未分化的SH－SY5Y细胞存在钙离子通道电流,在刺激时间间隔较短时（＜150s）,胞内钙浓度的恢复过程会由于缓冲机制的饱和而变慢;而时间间隔＞150s时,缓冲物质则可以基本恢复使得胞内钙的恢复过程基本保持不变。结论：钙缓冲蛋白在细胞内钙浓度的调节中起重要作用。     

高浓度琼脂糖电泳分离差异显示PCR产物方法探讨

荧光差异显示技术（fluorescent differential display,FDD）的操作成本及对仪器和试剂盒的依赖性高,限制了该技术的应用。介绍一种使用高浓度琼脂糖电泳方法显示荧光差异显示PCR扩增结果的简便方法,该方法在筛选低钙与足钙处理条件下花生胚胎的差异表达基因中得到了较好结果。     

单细胞内Ca2+时空变化的激光共聚焦显微测定

应用激光扫描共聚焦显微系统(LSCM)和Fluo-3/AM荧光探剂标记技术, 测定了单个活细胞胞内游离Ca²⁺的动态变化与立体分布影像. 结果显示, 在37℃, Fluo-3/AM终浓度为6μmol/L的条件下, C57BL/6J小鼠巨噬细胞负载1h左右即可获得良好的标记效果. 相反, 若探剂浓度太高或负载时间太长, 胞内荧光强度太强, 影响在共聚焦显微镜镜下分辨细胞内结构. 因此用LSCM研究细胞内游离Ca²⁺变化时, 荧光探剂的负载应以获得最适荧光信号而不是以最大荧光强度为标准. 上述方法在其他如平滑肌细胞、卵母细胞中的测定亦获得满意的结果, 这对进一步研究各种生理和病理条件下细胞内Ca²⁺信号的动态变化、与跨膜Ca²⁺梯差的关系及对活细胞功能活动的调节提供了一种可行的、直观的研究手段.     

神经系统中钙的测定方法

现有的测钙方法多数不能将离子化钙与非离子化钙区别,亦即不能直接测定真正具有生理活性的钙离子。这是长期来研究者迫切寻求解决的问题。本文着重讨论了钙敏蛋白、金属铬标记物、荧光螯合探测剂、原子吸收光谱、放射性示踪剂、离子选择微电极,以及近年发展起来的电子和质子探针等测试手段的原理、优点和存在的问题。     

神经系统中钙的测定方法

现有的测钙方法多数不能将离子化钙与非离子化钙区别,亦即不能直接测定真正具有生理活性的钙离子.这是长期来研究者迫切寻求解决的问题.本文着重讨论了钙敏蛋白、金属铬标记物、荧光螯合探测剂、原子吸收光谱、放射性示踪剂、离子选择微电极,以及近年发展起来的电子和质子探针等测试手段的原理、优点和存在的问题.     

实时荧光定量PCR在固氮酶基因检测中的应用

实时荧光定量PCR是近年发展起来的一种新的实时定量检测特定核酸技术,它是核酸探针技术、荧光共振能量传递技术和PCR技术的有机结合。与常规PCR相比,它具有特异性更强、能有效解决PCR污染问题、自动化程度高等特点,扩大了PCR的应用范围。概述实时荧光定量PCR技术在固氮酶(nifH)基因检测中的应用与研究进展,并探讨该技术的发展和应用前景。     

DPH标记细胞膜的动力学与膜脂流动性的荧光偏振校正测量

用稳态荧光技术测得经过校正的荧光成分,由此算出用DPH标记的细胞膜的偏振度。方法是作荧光偏振值在随时间变化的曲线,将其外推至零标记时间求出该时间的荧光偏振值。用此法测定了艾氏腹水癌细胞的膜流动性。结果表明流动性比用整个细胞测得之值小,说明膜脂的有序程度和包装密度比胞浆中的脂大。实验结果和用三房空模型分析所得的理论值符合较好,提示荧光探剂的标记过程主要受分子扩散所控制。     

Measurement of intracellular magnesium in a vascular smooth muscle cell line using a fluorescent probe

Until recently, direct measurement of intracellular free magnesium has been complex and difficult. However, fluorescent probes are now available, based on the same principle as well-established probes for free calcium. Using one such probe, mag-fura-2, we have estimated basal intracellular magnesium concentrations in the A7r5 rat vascular smooth muscle cell line. This level was unaffected by numerous pharmacological manipulations, including agonist stimulation and depolarisation. The possible implications of these findings are discussed.     

Phosphate induced developmental arrest of hamster two-cell embryos is associated with disrupted ionic homeostasis.

Culture of hamster embryos with 0.35 mM inorganic phosphate results in developmental arrest at the 2-cell stage. These arrested 2-cell embryos were found to have significantly elevated levels of both intracellular pH and intracellular free calcium. Culture of 2-cell embryos with both glucose and phosphate did not further alter intracellular ionic homeostasis. Developmental arrest of 2-cell embryos was dependent on the concentration of phosphate used. Culture with 1.25 microM phosphate did not alter development, while concentrations of 2.5 microM and 5.0 microM resulted in a percentage of embryos arresting development at the 2-cell stage. Analysis of intracellular levels of pH and calcium after culture with different phosphate concentrations revealed a significant negative correlation between intracellular calcium levels and development beyond the 2-cell stage. There was no correlation between the increase in intracellular pH and embryo development in the presence of phosphate. The increase in intracellular calcium levels after culture with phosphate appears to be derived from intracellular pools, as preventing the influx of extracellular calcium did not alter development beyond the 2-cell stage. Therefore, it is apparent that a disruption in ionic homeostasis is associated with developmental arrest of hamster embryos cultured with phosphate.     

The slowing of Ca2+ signals by Ca2+ indicators in cardiac muscle.

The use of high-affinity fluorescent probes for monitoring intracellular free Ca2+ in cardiac muscle is now widespread. We have investigated the consequences of introducing intracellular buffers with the properties of Fura-2 or Indo-1 on the action potential, Ca2+ transient and contractile activity of the myocardium. Our theoretical results suggest that, at the high intracellular concentrations of these fluorescent probes used on occasion to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the emitted fluorescence, modulation of action potential profile and attenuation of the amplitudes of the Ca2+ transient and contraction can occur, together with subtle changes in the kinetics of these events.     

Quin-2 and fura-2 measure calcium differently

Several fluorescent probes have been used in the past to monitor and to measure intracellular calcium and calcium fluxes. The most widely used of these probes are those developed by Tsien. We address the markedly different values obtained when comparing Quin-2 (the original probe) with Fura-2 (a second-generation probe). In most cases the values for intracellular calcium have been considered to be interchangeable for the different probes. Using several different hematopoietic cell lines we show that in no case do the two probes yield equivalent values.     

Intracellular free calcium levels in mononuclear cells of patients with cystic fibrosis and normal controls

The time course of resting free intracellular calcium concentrations in isolated mononuclear blood cells following a one hour incubation period with the fluorescent dye quin2 was evaluated. Under equal experimental conditions, a slow time-dependent increase of intracellular free calcium in patients with cystic fibrosis and normal healthy controls was noted. Using regression analysis, cystic fibrosis patients were seen to exhibit significantly higher free intracellular calcium concentrations than the controls over the time span covered. At an arbitrarily selected time (60 minutes) the free calcium level was 143.7 +/- 4.3 nM (SEM) in the patients, and 125.5 +/- 2.6 nM in controls. From these data it is concluded that neglecting the time-dependent (Ca2+)i changes following quin2 incubation leads to over- and/or underestimation of the unstimulated resting, basic free calcium levels and prevents the detection of differences between normals and cystic fibrosis patients.     

Simultaneous measurement of intracellular Ca(2+) and nitric oxide: a new method

Different methods to measure the unstable radical nitric oxide (NO) have been established. We are going to present a new method to measure intracellular calcium and NO simultaneously in endothelial cells. A new fluorescent dye (DAF-2) has been developed recently which binds NO resulting in an enhanced fluorescence. We loaded porcine aortic endothelial cells with Fura-2, a fluorescent dye commonly used to measure intracellular calcium, and DAF-2 simultaneously (cell permeable dyes). Using excitation wavelengths of lambda 340 nm (Fura-2) and lambda 485 nm (DAF-2) we could show that thrombin induces an intracellular calcium increase and simultaneously a NO formation in endothelial cells which could be blocked by a NO synthase inhibitor. This new method of a simultaneous measurement of intracellular calcium and NO provides the possibility to follow intracellular calcium and NO distributions online, and is sensitive enough to monitor changes of NO formed by the constitutive endothelial NO-synthase.     

Calcium signal compartmentalization

Cytosolic calcium signals are produced by suddenly increasing the concentration of free calcium ions (Ca2+). This can occur by opening channels permeable to Ca2+ either in the surface cell membrane or in the membranes of intracellular organelles containing high Ca2+ concentrations. Ca2+ signals can control several different processes, even in the same cell. In pancreatic acinar cells, for example, Ca2+ signals do not only control the normal secretion of digestive enzymes, but can also activate autodigestion and programmed cell death. Recent technical advances have shown that different patterns of Ca2+ signals can be created, in space and time, which allow specific cellular responses to be elicited. The mechanisms responsible for Ca2+ signal compartmentalization are now largely known and will be described on the basis of recent studies of Ca2+ transport pathways and their regulation in pancreatic acinar cells. It turns out that the Ca2+ handling as well as the structural characteristics of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the mitochondria are of particular importance. Using a variety of Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probes placed in different sub-cellular compartments in combination with local uncaging of caged Ca2+, many new insights into Ca2+ signal generation, compartmentalization and termination have recently been obtained.     

人肝刺激因子对CCl4损伤大鼠离体肝细胞内钙和钾离子稳态的影响

本工作从自愿流产孕妇的胎儿取肝,按照LaBrecque法提取人肝刺激因子(human hepaticstimulator substance,hHSS)。用荧光探针Fura-2/AM测定离体肝细胞内游离钙,用离子分析仪测细胞染毒(四氯化碳CCl_4)前后基质中钾离子含量,观察hHSS对染毒肝细胞内Ca~(2+)和K~+稳态的影响,并测定肝细胞存活率和细胞内转氨酶(ALT)的漏出作为佐证。结果表明,人胎肝中含有hHSS,hHSS能提高离体肝细胞的存活率,维持肝细胞内游离钙的相对恒定,减少细胞内钾离子和ALT的漏出。这些结果提示,hHSS可保护肝细胞内钙,钾离子稳态和肝细胞膜的稳定,从而加强大鼠离体肝细胞抗CCl_4的损伤。     

Effect of serotonin on intracellular free calcium of rat cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells in culture

Smooth muscle cells were dissociated from conducting cerebral arteries of adult rats and maintained in culture for 2-4 days. The calcium-sensitive fluorescent probe, fura-2, was used to study the effect of the vasoconstrictor serotonin (5-HT) on the level of free intracellular Ca2+ in these cells. The baseline level of free intracellular calcium was 39 +/- 3.6 nM. In 74 out of 110 cells, 5-HT application transiently increased the free Ca2+ content. This effect was dose-dependent and was suppressed by nanomolar concentrations of the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ketanserin. The 5-HT induced rise in free intracellular calcium was not prevented by the presence of Co2+, La3+, or nifedipine, blockers of voltage-sensitive calcium channels. These results indicate that 5-HT mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ in cultured smooth muscle cells derived from the rat cerebrovasculature. The mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ appears to be triggered by a 5-HT2 type receptor, although further pharmacological experiments are required to verify this hypothesis.     

Calcium, mitochondria and apoptosis studied by fluorescence measurements

Among the many unsolved problems of calcium signalling, the role of calcium elevations in apoptotic and necrotic cell death has been a focus of research in recent years. Evidence has been presented that calcium oscillations can effectively trigger apoptosis under certain conditions and that dysregulation of calcium signalling is a common cause of cell death. These effects are regularly mediated through calcium signal propagation to the mitochondria and the ensuing mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and release of pro-apoptotic factors from mitochondria to the cytoplasm. The progress in this area depended on the development of (1) fluorescent/luminescent probes, including fluorescent proteins that can be genetically targeted to different intracellular locations and (2) the digital imaging technology, fluorescence-activated cell sorting and fluorescent high throughput approaches, which allowed dynamic measurements of both [Ca2+] in the intracellular compartments of interest and the downstream processes. Fluorescence single cell imaging has been the only possible approach to resolve the cell-to-cell heterogeneity and the complex subcellular spatiotemporal organization of the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial calcium signals and downstream events. We outline here fluorometric and fluorescence imaging protocols that we set up for the study of calcium in the context of apoptosis.