3D-SIM结构照明超分辨率显微镜实现蛋白质在植物亚细胞器内的定位

基因表达产物蛋白质的亚细胞定位是解析基因生物学功能的重要证据之一。近年来出现的超分辨率光学成像技术已成功应用于人类和动物细胞中,预示着显微成像技术继激光共聚焦技术后的又一重要进步。由于植物细胞的特殊性和成像技术的研发取向,超分辨率光学成像技术在植物细胞蛋白质亚细胞定位的应用尚未见报道。该研究利用Delta Vision OMX显微镜技术,克服了叶绿体基粒中叶绿素自发荧光与融合蛋白荧光不易区分的缺陷,解决了受分辨率局限无法将植物细胞中蛋白质在亚细胞器内可视化精确定位的技术难题,成功地将植物蔗糖合成酶Zm SUS-SH1定位在烟草表皮细胞叶绿体基粒周围。该研究同时建立了一套基于撕片制片法的简便OMX显微镜制片方法,并针对OMX显微成像技术在植物细胞中蛋白质亚细胞定位的应用进行了讨论。

Using 3D-SIM Structure Illumination Microscope to Localize Proteins in Plant Subcellular Compartments

The information on protein subcellular localization is important to elucidate protein function, and imaging technology is one of the important approaches to visualize protein localization. However, conventional microscopy techniques can barely resolve details of subcellular structures mainly because of the auto-fluorescence interference with their limited imaging resolution. In recent years, super-resolution optical imaging technologies have been successfully used in human and animal cell research for their 8-fold higher spacial resolution over laser confocal microscopy. Application of these technologies in plant cells has not been reported, probably due to the peculiarity of plant cells. Here, we report the successful use of DeltaVision OMX microscope technology for visualizing Zea mays sucrose synthase 1 (ZmSUS-SH1) around chloroplast grana in transgenic tobacco epidermal cells. OMX microscopy can overcome the cellular chlorophyll fluorescence interference in imaging fluorescent fusion proteins. We also developed an optimized sample preparation protocol for using DeltaVision OMX microscope technology with plant materials.