Internalization kinetics and cytoplasmic localization of functionalized diatomite nanoparticles in cancer cells by Raman imaging

Porous biosilica nanoparticles obtained from diatomites (DNPs) have been recently demonstrated to be non‐toxic nanovectors of therapeutic agents in cancer cells. In this work, the internalization kinetics and intracellular spatial distribution of functionalized DNPs incubated with human lung epidermoid carcinoma cell line (H1355) up to 72 hours are investigated by Raman imaging. The label‐free Raman results are compared with confocal fluorescence microscopy and photoluminescence (PL) data. Raman bands specifically assigned to DNPs and cellular components provide evidence that the nanovectors are internalized and co‐localize with lipid environments. A considerable DNPs uptake in cells is observed within 6 hours, with equilibrium being achieved after 18 hours. The obtained data show the presence of DNPs up to 72 hours, without damage to cell viability or morphology. The PL measurements performed on DNPs not penetrating the cells at different incubation times are strongly correlated with the results obtained by Raman imaging and confocal microscopy analyses.      

Characterization and application of Raman labels for confocal Raman microspectroscopic detection of cellular proteins in single cells

A method using confocal Raman microspectroscopy for the detection of cellular proteins in single intact cells was developed. Two approaches were used to improve the detection of these cellular components. First, compounds with high Raman scattering were investigated for potential use as Raman labels. Raman labels were conjugated to either biomolecules or biotin and used as markers in the detection of cellular enzymes and receptors. Second, silver colloids were used to increase the surface-enhanced Raman scatter (SERS) of these Raman labels. Cresyl violet and dimethylaminoazobenzene are Raman labels that provide very sensitive SERS detection by a confocal Raman microscope with a HeNe laser at wavelength of 632.8 nm. The detection of 12-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-1 in single bovine coronary artery endothelial cells and the binding of angiotensin II to its receptors in zona glomerulosa cells was demonstrated.     

Nonresonant confocal Raman imaging of DNA and protein distribution in apoptotic cells

Nonresonant confocal Raman imaging has been used to map the DNA and the protein distributions in individual single human cells. The images are obtained on an improved homebuilt confocal Raman microscope. After statistical analysis, using singular value decomposition, the Raman images are reconstructed from the spectra covering the fingerprint region. The data are obtained at a step interval of approximately 250 nm and cover a field from 8- to 15- micro m square in size. Dwell times at each pixel are between 0.5 and 2 s, depending on the nature and the state of the cell under investigation. High quality nonresonant Raman images can only be obtained under these conditions using continuous wave high laser powers between 60 and 120 mW. We will present evidence that these laser powers can still safely be used to recover the chemical distributions in fixed cells. The developed Raman imaging method is used to image directly, i.e., without prior labeling, the nucleotide condensation and the protein distribution in the so-called nuclear fragments of apoptotic HeLa cells. In the control (nonapoptotic) HeLa cells, we show, for the first time by Raman microspectroscopy, the presence of the RNA in a cell nucleus.     

Intracellular dynamics of topoisomerase I inhibitor,CPT-11, by slit-scanning confocal Raman microscopy

Most molecular imaging technologies require exogenous probes and may have some influence on the intracellular dynamics of target molecules. In contrast, Raman scattering light measurement can identify biomolecules in their innate state without application of staining methods. Our aim was to analyze intracellular dynamics of topoisomerase I inhibitor, CPT-11, by using slit-scanning confocal Raman microscopy, which can take Raman images with high temporal and spatial resolution. We could acquire images of the intracellular distribution of CPT-11 and its metabolite SN-38 within several minutes without use of any exogenous tags. Change of subcellular drug localization after treatment could be assessed by Raman imaging. We also showed intracellular conversion from CPT-11 to SN-38 using Raman spectra. The study shows the feasibility of using slit-scanning confocal Raman microscopy for the non-labeling evaluation of the intracellular dynamics of CPT-11 with high temporal and spatial resolution. We conclude that Raman spectromicroscopic imaging is useful for pharmacokinetic studies of anticancer drugs in living cells. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

alpha-Crystallin localizes to the leading edges of migrating lens epithelial cells

alpha-crystallin (alphaA and alphaB) is a major lens protein, which belongs to the small heat-shock family of proteins and binds to various cytoskeletal proteins including actin, vimentin and desmin. In this study, we investigated the cellular localization of alphaA and alphaB-crystallins in migrating epithelial cells isolated from porcine lens. Immunofluorescence localization and confocal imaging of alphaB-crystallin in confluent and in migrating subconfluent cell cultures revealed a distinct pattern of subcellular distribution. While alphaB-crystallin localization was predominantly cytoplasmic in confluent cultures, it was strongly localized to the leading edges of cell membrane or the lamellipodia in migrating cells. In accordance with this pattern, we found abundant levels of alphaB-crystallin in membrane fractions compared to cytosolic and nuclear fractions in migrating lens epithelial cells. alphaA-crystallin, which has 60% sequence identity to alphaB-crystallin, also exhibited a distribution profile localizing to the leading edge of the cell membrane in migrating lens epithelial cells. Localization of alphaB-crystallin to the lamellipodia appears to be dependent on phosphorylation of residue serine-59. An inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase (SB202190), but not the ERK kinase inhibitor PD98059, was found to diminish localization of alphaB-crystallin to the lamellipodia, and this effect was found to be associated with reduced levels of Serine-59 phosphorylated alphaB-crystallin in SB202190-treated migrating lens epithelial cells. alphaB-crystallin localization to the lamellipodia was also altered by the treatment with RGD (Arg-Ala-Asp) peptide, dominant negative N17 Rac1 GTPase, cytochalasin D and Src kinase inhibitor (PP2), but not by the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 or the myosin II inhibitor, blebbistatin. Additionally, in migrating lens epithelial cells, alphaB-crystallin exhibited a clear co-localization with the actin meshwork, beta-catenin, WAVE-1, a promoter of actin nucleation, Abi-2, a component of WAVE-1 protein complex and Arp3, a protein of the actin nucleation complex, suggesting potential interactions between alphaB-crystallin and regulatory proteins involved in actin dynamics and cell adhesion. This is the first report demonstrating specific localization of alphaA and alphaB-crystallins to the lamellipodia in migrating lens epithelial cells and our findings indicate a potential role for alpha-crystallin in actin dynamics during cell migration.     

Matricellular protein SPARC is translocated to the nuclei of immortalized murine lens epithelial cells

The matricellular glycoprotein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), has complex biological activities and is important for lens epithelial cell function and regulation of cataract formation. To understand how SPARC influences lens epithelial cell activity and homeostasis, we have studied the subcellular distribution of SPARC in murine lens epithelial cells in vitro. We demonstrate that endogenous SPARC is located in the cytoplasm of either quiescent or dividing lens epithelial cells in culture. However, cytoplasmic SPARC was translocated into the nuclei of immortalized lens epithelial cells upon a significant reduction of intracellular SPARC in these cells. Recombinant human (rh) SPARC added to the culture media was quickly and efficiently internalized into the cytosol of SPARC-null lens epithelial cells. Moreover, cytoplasmic rhSPARC was also translocated into the nucleus after exogenous rhSPARC was removed from the culture media. The translocation of SPARC into the nucleus was therefore triggered by the reduction of SPARC protein normally available to the cells. A mouse SPARC-EGFP chimeric fusion protein (70 kDa) was expressed in lens epithelial cells and 293-EBNA cells, and was observed both in the cytoplasm and culture medium, but not in the nucleus. SPARC does not appear to have a strong nuclear localization sequence. Alternatively, SPARC might pass through the nuclear pore complex by passive diffusion. SPARC therefore functions not only as an extracellular protein but also potentially as an intracellular protein to influence cellular activities and homeostasis.     

Label-free in situ imaging of lignification in the cell wall of low lignin transgenic Populus trichocarpa

Chemical imaging by confocal Raman microscopy has been used for the visualization of the cellulose and lignin distribution in wood cell walls. Lignin reduction in wood can be achieved by, for example, transgenic suppression of a monolignol biosynthesis gene encoding 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL). Here, we use confocal Raman microscopy to compare lignification in wild type and lignin-reduced 4CL transgenic Populus trichocarpa stem wood with spatial resolution that is sub-μm. Analyzing the lignin Raman bands in the spectral region between 1,600 and 1,700 cm⁻¹, differences in lignin signal intensity and localization are mapped in situ. Transgenic reduction of lignin is particularly pronounced in the S2 wall layer of fibers, suggesting that such transgenic approach may help overcome cell wall recalcitrance to wood saccharification. Spatial heterogeneity in the lignin composition, in particular with regard to ethylenic residues, is observed in both samples. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Minireview: Apoptosis as seen through a lens

The lens represents an ideal model system for studying many of the cellular and molecular events of differentiation. It is composed of two ectodermally-derived cell types: the lens epithelial cells and the lens fibre cells, which are derived from the lens epithelial cells by differentiation. Programmed removal of nuclei and other organelles from the lens fibre cells ensures that an optically clear structure is created, while the morphology of the degenerating nuclei is similar to that observed during apoptosis and is accompanied by DNA fragmentation. These observations suggest the existence of biochemical parallels between the process of lens fibre cell organelle loss and classical apoptosis. For example, proteins encoded by the bcl-2 and caspase gene families are expressed in developing lenses and nuclear degeneration in lens fibre cells can be inhibited in vivo by overexpression of bcl-2 and in vitro by incubation of differentiating lens epithelial cell cultures with caspase inhibitors. Thus, the developing lens may represent a particularly useful model system for researchers interested in apoptosis. In this review, the recent literature pertaining to lens fibre cell organelle loss and its relationship to apoptosis is reviewed and possible future research directions are suggested.     

Basonuclin in murine corneal and lens epithelia correlates with cellular maturation and proliferative ability

Basonuclin is a zinc finger protein with highly restricted tissue distribution. It has been found in abundance only in keratinocytes of stratified epithelia and the germ cells of the testis and ovary. We studied the expression pattern of basonuclin in relation to cellular proliferation and differentiation in murine corneal and lens epithelia, two self-renewing tissues in the eye which contain cells that proliferate throughout life. Mouse corneal and lens epithelial cells at various stages of development were labeled with BrdU for 90 min to detect cells in S phase and to establish proliferative rates. Whole eyes of mouse or rat were processed for frozen sections and cellular basonuclin was detected by either a rabbit antimouse- or a rabbit anti-human-basonuclin antibody. Basonuclin was expressed in virtually all cells in the basal layer of corneal epithelium and in the pre-equatorial lens epithelium, the respective proliferative compartments of adult corneal and lens epithelia. Basonuclin expression in corneal epithelium began at post-natal life day 4, first in a few cells and then spread to virtually all basal cells at day 20. Basonuclin was consistently absent in limbal epithelium. Lens basonuclin, which was detected earlier than that of the cornea, was confined to the pre-equatorial epithelium and was absent in equatorial cells that expressed p57KIP2, an early differentiation marker for these cells. An important distinction between corneal and lens basonuclin is that the former is predominantly nuclear whereas the latter cytoplasmic.     

CD44 expression is developmentally regulated in the mouse lens and increases in the lens epithelium after injury

Hyaluronan is an oligosaccharide found in the pericellular matrix of numerous cell types and hyaluronan-induced signaling is known to facilitate fibrosis and cancer progression in some tissues. Hyaluronan is also commonly instilled into the eye during cataract surgery to protect the corneal endothelium from damage. Despite this, little is known about the distribution of hyaluronan or its receptors in the normal ocular lens. In this study, hyaluronan was found throughout the mouse lens, with apparently higher concentrations in the lens epithelium. CD44, a major cellular receptor for hyaluronan, is expressed predominately in mouse secondary lens fiber cells born from late embryogenesis into adulthood. Surgical removal of lens fiber cells from adult mice resulted in a robust upregulation of CD44 protein, which preceded the upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin expression typically used as a marker of epithelial–mesenchyma transition in this model of lens epithelial cell fibrosis. Mice lacking the CD44 gene had morphologically normal lenses with a response to lens fiber cell removal similar to wildtype, although they exhibited an increase in cell-associated hyaluronan. Overall, these data suggest that lens cells have a hyaluronan-containing pericellular matrix whose structure is partially regulated by CD44. Further, these data indicate that CD44 upregulation in the lens epithelium may be an earlier marker of lens injury responses in the mouse lens than the upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin.     

Activation of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity is associated with decreased differentiation in adult bovine lens

The postnatal vertebrate eye lens provides an opportunity to study possible involvement of reversible protein phosphorylation in the differentiation process of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells at the lens equator, indeed, differentiate continuously into fiber cells throughout life but this capacity progressively decreases with age. Here we describe the characterization of a phosphotyrosine-protein phosphatase(s) (PTPase(s)) in the equatorial epithelium of bovine lens which exhibits a high level of specific activity. PTPase(s) is detected in cellular detergent extracts using phospholabeled synthetic peptides, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, and lens epithelial membranes as substrates. We show that activity of this PTPase(s) is increased in the equatorial epithelium as the age is increased. We also show that this enzyme(s) exerts its dephosphorylating activity predominantly on a calpactin-like protein associated with lens epithelial membranes. Dephosphorylation of this protein is only obtained when membranes are subjected to extracts in the presence of fibroblast growth factor (FGF). It is suggested that an FGF-activated PTPase(s) might conceivably counteract effects of differentiation stimulatory factors for limiting differentiation of lens throughout life. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Fingerprint‐to‐CH stretch continuously tunable high spectral resolution stimulated Raman scattering microscope

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy is a label‐free method generating images based on chemical contrast within samples, and has already shown its great potential for high‐sensitivity and fast imaging of biological specimens. The capability of SRS to collect molecular vibrational signatures in bio‐samples, coupled with the availability of powerful statistical analysis methods, allows quantitative chemical imaging of live cells with sub‐cellular resolution. This application has substantially driven the development of new SRS microscopy platforms. Indeed, in recent years, there has been a constant effort on devising configurations able to rapidly collect Raman spectra from samples over a wide vibrational spectral range, as needed for quantitative analysis by using chemometric methods. In this paper, an SRS microscope which exploits spectral shaping by a narrowband and rapidly tunable acousto‐optical tunable filter (AOTF) is presented. This microscope enables spectral scanning from the Raman fingerprint region to the Carbon‐Hydrogen (CH)‐stretch region without any modification of the optical setup. Moreover, it features also a high enough spectral resolution to allow resolving Raman peaks in the crowded fingerprint region. Finally, application of the developed SRS microscope to broadband hyperspectral imaging of biological samples over a large spectral range from 800 to 3600 cm^?1, is demonstrated.     

Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is activated during normal lens development

The lens of the eye is a transparent structure responsible for focusing light onto the retina. It is composed of two morphologically different cell types, epithelial cells found on the anterior surface and the fiber cells that are continuously formed by the differentiation of epithelial cells at the lens equator. The differentiation of an epithelial precursor cell into a fiber cell is associated with a dramatic increase in membrane protein synthesis. How the terminally differentiating fiber cells cope with the increased demand on the endoplasmic reticulum for this membrane protein synthesis is not known. In the present study, we have found evidence of Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activation during normal lens development and differentiation in the mouse. The ER-resident chaperones, immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), were expressed at high levels in the newly forming fiber cells of embryonic lenses. These fiber cells also expressed the UPR-associated molecules; XBP1, ATF6, phospho-PERK and ATF4 during embryogenesis. Moreover, spliced XBP1, cleaved ATF6, and phospho-eIF2α were detected in embryonic mouse lenses suggesting that UPR pathways are active in this tissue. These results propose a role for UPR activation in lens fiber cell differentiation during embryogenesis.     

An intracellular silver deposition method for targeted detection and chemical analysis of uncultured microorganisms

The vast majority of environmental bacteria remain uncultured, despite two centuries of effort in cultivating microorganisms. Our knowledge of their physiology and metabolic activity depends to a large extent on methods capable of analyzing single cells. Bacterial identification is a key step required by all currently used single-cell imaging techniques and is typically performed by means of fluorescent labeling. However, fluorescent cells cannot be visualized by ion- and electron microscopy and thus only correlative, indirect, cell identification is possible. Here we present a new method of bacterial identification by in situ hybridization coupled to the deposition of elemental silver nanoparticles (silver-DISH). We show that hybridized cells containing silver can be directly visualized by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), and confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy. Silver-DISH did not alter the isotopic (¹³C) and elemental composition of stable-isotope probed cells more than other available hybridization methods, making silver-DISH suitable for broad applications in stable-isotope labeling studies. Additionally, we demonstrate that silver-DISH can induce a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect, amplifying the Raman signal of biomolecules inside bacterial cells. This makes silver-DISH the only currently available method that is capable of delivering a SERS-active substrate inside specifically targeted microbial cells.     

Cell (A549)-particle (Jasada Bhasma) interactions using Raman spectroscopy

Current methods for the evaluation of cell interactions with particles are nonspecific, slow, and invasive to the cells. Raman spectroscopy is a noninvasive technique, and is used in the present study to investigate particle-cell interactions. The main focus of the present study is to employ Raman spectroscopy for investigating the interaction of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) with the particulate system Jasada Bhasma, a traditional Indian medicine. Jasada Bhasma is a unique preparation of zinc and is traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases like diabetes, age-related eye diseases, and as a health promotional tonic. The Raman spectral analysis is executed by identifying the difference in intracellular DNA/RNA, and proteins and lipids concentration between particles--treated and untreated cells. Comparison between Bhasma-treated and -untreated cells indicates that vibrational peaks corresponding to the DNA/RNA molecule show a significant increase in cells treated with the Jasada Bhasma. Apart from the DNA molecule, several other vibrational peaks related to the protein molecules also show a significant increase in A549 cells after treatment with Bhasma. These results indicate that Bhasma treatment of A549 possibly delays DNA degradation and enables retention of higher amount of protein molecules in the cells.     

Degradation of nuclear DNA by DNase II-like acid DNase in cortical fiber cells of mouse eye lens

The eye lens is composed of fiber cells that differentiate from epithelial cells on its anterior surface. In concert with this differentiation, a set of proteins essential for lens function is synthesized, and the cellular organelles are degraded. DNase II-like acid DNase, also called DNase IIbeta, is specifically expressed in the lens, and degrades the DNA in the lens fiber cells. Here we report that DNase II-like acid DNase is synthesized as a precursor with a signal sequence, and is localized to lysosomes. DNase II-like acid DNase mRNA was found in cortical fiber cells but not epithelial cells, indicating that its expression is induced during the differentiation of epithelial cells into fiber cells. Immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical analyses indicated that DNase II-like acid DNase was colocalized with Lamp-1 in the lysosomes of fiber cells in a relatively narrow region bordering the organelle-free zone, and was often found in degenerating nuclei. A comparison by microarray analysis of the gene expression profiles between epithelial and cortical fiber cells of young mouse lens indicated that some genes for lysosomal enzymes (cathepsins and lipases) were strongly expressed in the fiber cells. These results suggest that the lysosomal system plays a role in the degradation of cellular organelles during lens cell differentiation.     

Immunohistochemical localization of S-100-containing cells in non-nervous structures of the human eye

The present study reports on the immunohistochemical distribution of S-100 antigen in non-nervous cell types within the human eye at light microscopy. In the cornea the antigen was confined to endothelial cells covering its posterior surface; the lens exhibited immunoreactivity restricted to the epithelial cells located beneath the anterior capsule. In the iris and ciliary body, S-100 was detected in stromal cells and epithelial cells of the pigmented inner layer in the former and inner epithelial cells bounding the posterior chamber in the latter.