三套荧光显微成像系统在光敏剂亚细胞定位研究中的应用比较

目的：对三套荧光显微成像系统在国产新型光敏剂HMME亚细胞定位研究中的应用特点及适用范围进行了比较与评价。方法：分别应用LSCM、CCD、ICCD荧光显微成像系统,选择特异性细胞器荧光探针Rhodamine-123、DIOC6(3)标记细胞内线粒体和内质网。采用细胞器-细胞荧光强度比值法,对HMME进行单细胞内分布的定性与定量研究。结果：LSCM和CCD成像系统能采集到浓度达到160μg／ml时的HMME的荧光图像,获得荧光探针图像信息显示所标记的细胞内线粒体和内质网平均荧光强度比值(J1/J2值)都明显高于细胞内J1/J2值。而ICCD成像系统只需HMME浓度为5μg/ml,荧光图像特点都呈胞浆中荧光强度较高且分布不均,细胞核区荧光较弱的中空现象。ICCD系统对细胞器探针荧光图像在空间分辨上不理想。结论：LSCM与CCD成像系统限于其探测灵敏度,对于弱荧光性光敏剂,适用于其高孵育浓度条件下的亚细胞定位研究。二者获得的结果相一致：孵育24h,HMME在鼠肺内皮细胞线粒体和内质网有分布而几乎不进入细胞核。ICCD成像系统可不受孵育浓度条件的限制,实现光敏剂极微弱荧光的有效探测,但空间分辨率较低。     

活细胞RNA动态成像技术进展

RNA是生命“中心法则”的主要成员,广泛参与细胞内各种生命活动. RNA在活细胞内的区室定位和动态过程与RNA功能息息相关.因此,需要开发活细胞内RNA成像技术,追踪RNA时空动态过程,原位阐明RNA活性和功能,进一步解析RNA相关生命过程和疾病的关系.本文系统阐述两大活细胞RNA成像体系:(i)RNA发夹:荧光蛋白体系;(ii)荧光响应RNA适配体:小分子探针体系.并介绍其他可用于动态示踪RNA的技术,概述不同技术在追踪活细胞RNA方面的特点和问题,讨论RNA动态成像技术未来的发展方向.     

以三维荧光反卷积显微技术研究活体细胞中分泌囊泡的空间分布

获得活体细胞三维图像以观察细胞内分泌囊泡的空间分布有助于细胞分泌机制的研究。三维荧光反卷积显微技术可以为活体细胞观察提供低荧光漂白 ,低毒副作用的快速三维成像。研究了显微成像系统实验测定和理论计算点扩展函数之间的关系 ,并且实验验证了NA 1.6 5物镜条件下 ,理论计算点扩展函数可以较好地反映显微成像系统的特性。然后使用已知物理结构的三维样本对反卷积算法的有效性进行了研究。进而对使用吖啶橙(acridineorange)标记的大鼠胰腺 β细胞分泌囊泡进行观察。结果显示 ,反卷积算法可以有效地去除原始图像中因为焦外光影响产生的模糊 ,处理后图像清晰地显示了细胞内分泌囊泡的空间分布     

全内角反射技术与转盘式共聚焦技术在细胞膜表面的成像比较

转盘式共聚焦成像是一种高速、高分辨率成像技术,可以在高时间分辨率和空间分辨率的水平观察固定细胞内目标蛋白的分布及活细胞内目标蛋白的动态变化。全内角反射成像是一种观察距离玻片表面某个限定区域内蛋白质的分布和变化的成像技术,常用于观察固定细胞以及活细胞表面的亚细胞结构。该文以中性粒细胞和神经胶质瘤细胞作为观察对象,通过观测固定细胞膜表面蛋白质的分布以及追踪膜标记活细胞的动态变化对两种成像方法进行了比较。结果发现,就目前技术水平而言,二者均可以采集到清晰的细胞边缘,但全内角反射可以拍摄到更清晰的细胞膜表面结构,它在动态拍摄过程中光漂白相对较低,在快速捕捉过程中能够更加全面的捕捉到一个完整的运动过程。     

斑马鱼胚胎第一次卵裂过程中胞内钙信号的研究

钙离子作为广泛存在的细胞内信使物质,在动物胚胎早期发育过程中扮演重要角色.为了研究钙离子在斑马鱼胚胎发育过程中的空间分布和浓度变化,采用Fluo-4和Indo-1作为钙离子指示剂,利用激光共聚焦和双波长荧光比例成像技术,对斑马鱼胚胎第一次卵裂过程中的钙信号进行了详细的跟踪观察.在第一次卵裂过程中,斑马鱼胚胎的动物极顶端首先出现高钙斑,然后在分裂沟部位出现高浓度的钙信号,这一信号在卵裂过程中持续存在.利用Indo-1双波长荧光比例成像对上述过程中钙离子的时空分布进行了定量测定,表明,胞内钙离子在卵裂开始之前是均匀分布的,随着分裂沟的出现,其附近区域的钙浓度显著升高,而胞内其他区域的钙浓度则保持不变.双波长荧光比例成像排除了荧光染料分布不均匀造成的干扰,为钙信号与胚胎分裂的密切关系提供了确凿的定量依据.     

单细胞实时监测Photofrin-PDT作用下Bax蛋白的动态分布

细胞凋亡是机体生命活动中重要的细胞学事件,在许多疾病的治疗中也起着关键性的作用。在多种凋亡因子刺激下,Bax的构象发生改变,寡聚化,插入线粒体外膜上。虽然关于Bax蛋白的研究已经取得了很大进展,但是Bax蛋白是如何转位到线粒体以及如何引起细胞色C释放等许多问题尚未十分清楚。为了进一步对Bax蛋白的生物学行为进行研究,特别是在无损伤、活细胞生理条件下,本实验采用了荧光蛋白标记和荧光成像技术对PDT作用凋亡过程中Bax蛋白在活细胞内分布的动态过程进行了初步研究。结果表明:在没有PDT作用时,Bax蛋白比较均匀地分布在整个细胞内,而PDT处理15分钟后,Bax蛋白开始不均匀分布在整个细胞,定位在线粒体上。该研究为今后使用荧光蛋白标记的方法在无损伤、活细胞生理条件下研究Bax蛋白定位机理以及如何诱导细胞色素C释放等问题打下了坚实的基础。     

利用荧光共振能量转移技术在活细胞内研究顺铂诱导的凋亡信号通路

为在活细胞内探讨顺铂诱导的凋亡通路．实验样品经顺铂处理后,应用基于荧光共振能量转移(FRET)原理设计的荧光探针pFRET-Bid和pSCAT-3来检测Bid切割和Capase-3活化的动态变化,同时,利用荧光成像在亚细胞水平对Bid转位线粒体的动力学特征进行了实时分析．结果表明：在顺铂诱导的细胞凋亡过程中,Bid切割发生在药物刺激后4～5 h, 历时(120±20) min．Bid切割活化后即从胞浆内转位到线粒体,历时(90±15) min．在凋亡后期,可以明显检测到Caspase-3 的激活．研究表明,应用FRET及荧光成像技术,可以在活细胞内实时、直观、可视地研究顺铂诱导的细胞凋亡过程,从而客观地反映了Bid、Caspase-3等蛋白质分子在该凋亡信号通路中的动态行为及时空传递特性．     

监测细胞内氧化还原代谢状态的遗传编码荧光探针

原位、高时空分辨地检测细胞内氧化还原代谢状态是生命科学研究的一个瓶颈问题和迫切需求.然而,依赖细胞裂解、酶学、色谱、质谱等传统生化分析方法难以实时监测细胞内氧化还原代谢变化,更难以应用于高通量药物筛选.基于荧光蛋白的探针成像是近年来生命科学和医学领域迅速发展的一种分析检测技术.由于这些荧光探针实现了在活细胞内实时、动态地监测生物学过程,从而革命性地改变了生命科学研究.相对于化学小分子荧光探针,遗传编码的荧光蛋白探针在精确定位亚细胞结构、消除人为干扰以及活体应用方面,存在显著的优势.近年来,科学家针对细胞内重要的氧化还原代谢物,发明了多种多样的遗传编码荧光探针,实现了在单细胞、亚细胞甚至活体内对氧化还原代谢状态的特异性检测和成像,大大推动了相关研究领域的发展.本文将以细胞内两对关键的氧化还原代谢分子NADH/NAD~+和NADPH/NADP~+为例,重点介绍相关荧光探针的设计、性质、应用以及使用注意事项,以方便研究者更好地了解和使用相关技术.     

细胞凋亡过程中Bid蛋白在活细胞内的动态分布

当细胞暴露于凋亡诱导因子如肿瘤坏死因子（tumornecrosisfactor-α,TNF-α）等的环境中,被激活的凋亡酶Caspase8将Bid蛋白切割成两个片断,随后其C-端片段转移到线粒体上诱发细胞色素c的释放,最终引起细胞凋亡。虽然关于Bid蛋白的研究已经取得了很大进展,但是Bid蛋白是如何转移到线粒体以及如何引起细胞色素c释放等许多问题尚未十分明了。为了进一步对Bid蛋白的生物学行为进行研究,特别是在无损伤、活细胞生理条件下,本实验采用了荧光蛋白标记和荧光成像技术对凋亡过程中Bid蛋白在活细胞内分布的动态过程进行了初步研究。     

抗砷细胞荧光染色后的激光共聚焦显微镜检测

目的:应用激光共聚焦显微镜检测活细胞内荧光物质含量.方法:传代培养长期低剂量砷诱导的抗砷细胞,用荧光染料Rhodamine-123对细胞染色30min,实验组与维拉帕米(Verapamil)共同孵育,对照组为单加Rhodamine-123的抗砷细胞.应用激光共聚焦显微镜采集Rhodamine-123的荧光图像动态序列,并且记录不同时间段的细胞内荧光强度.结果:实验组细胞染色12h,24h,36h,48h,60h后,荧光强度依次为(51.567±0.7572)、(46.533±0.7095)、(39.557±0.601)、(38.6±0.6245)和(38.505±0.718),明显高于同时间段对照组的荧光强度,差异均有显著性(P＜0.01).结论:应用激光共聚焦显微成像技术能进行活细胞水平荧光物质实时定量检测.     

Mucosal mast cell secretion processes imaged using three-photon microscopy of 5-hydroxytryptamine autofluorescence

The secretion process of the mucosal mast cell line RBL-2H3 was imaged using infrared three photon excitation (3PE) of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) autofluorescence, a measurement previously difficult because of the technical intractability of deep UV optics. Images of prestimulation 5-HT distributions were analyzed in loaded cell populations (those incubated in a 5-HT-rich medium overnight) and in unloaded populations and were found to be strictly quantifiable by comparison with bulk population high-performance liquid chromatography measurements. Antigenically stimulated cells were observed to characteristically ruffle and spread as granular 5-HT disappeared with no detectable granule movement. Individual cells exhibited highly heterogeneous release kinetics, often with quasi-periodic bursts. Neighboring granule disappearances were correlated, indicative of either spatially localized signaling or granule-granule interactions. In one-half of the granule release events, weak residual fluorescence was visible suggestive of leftover 5-HT still bound to the granule matrix. The terminal stages of secretion (>300 s) consisted primarily of unresolved granules and remainder 5-HT leakage from already released granules.     

Biochemical and biophysical characterization of serotonin 5-HT2C receptor homodimers on the plasma membrane of living cells

While many studies have provided evidence of homodimerization and heterodimerization of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), few studies have used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) combined with confocal microscopy to visualize receptor dimerization on the plasma membrane, and there have been no reports demonstrating the expression of serotonin receptor dimers/oligomers on the plasma membrane of living cells. In the study presented here, biochemical and biophysical techniques were used to determine if 5-HT(2C) receptors exist as homodimers on the plasma membrane of living cells. Immunoprecipitation followed by Western blotting revealed the presence of immunoreactive bands the predicted size of 5-HT(2C) receptor monomers and homodimers that were detergent and cross-linker sensitive. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) was assessed in HEK293 cells expressing 5-HT(2C) receptors labeled with Renilla luciferase and yellow fluorescent protein. BRET levels were not altered by pretreatment with serotonin. Confocal microscopy provided direct visualization of FRET on the plasma membrane of live cells expressing 5-HT(2C) receptors labeled with cyan (donor) and yellow (acceptor) fluorescent proteins. FRET, assessed by acceptor photobleaching, was dependent on the donor/acceptor ratio and independent of acceptor expression levels, indicating that FRET resulted from receptor clustering and not from overexpression of randomly distributed receptors, providing evidence for GPCR dimers/oligomers in a clustered distribution on the plasma membrane. The results of this study suggest that 5-HT(2C) receptors exist as constitutive homodimers on the plasma membrane of living cells. In addition, a confocal-based FRET method for monitoring receptor dimerization directly on the plasma membrane of living cells is described.     

Differential Expression of the 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B Receptor in Differentiated NG108-15 Cells

Previous work from this laboratory has shown that the serotonin (5-HT) induced response is significantly augmented in differentiated NG108-15 (NG) cells treated with dibutyryl cAMP (Bt(2)cAMP) due to qualitative and quantitative changes in the expression of the 5-HT(3) receptor as demonstrated by specific [(3)H] LY-278584 (a selective 5HT(3) receptor antagonist) binding. In this study, we investigated whether there is any change in the relative expression of the 5-HT(3A) and 5-HT(3B) subunits in NG cells differentiated following Bt(2)cAMP treatment cells. The major findings of this study were that the relative amount of 5-HT(3B) subunit mRNA in Bt(2)cAMP-treated NG cells 5 days following Bt(2)cAMP-treatment was greater than that in the untreated cells. In contrast, the relative expression of the 5-HT(3B) subunit protein in the Bt(2)cAMP-treated NG cells was much less than in the untreated cells, but the relative expression of the 5-HT(3A) subunit in the Bt(2)cAMP-treated NG cells was similar to the untreated cells. Therefore, no relationship between mRNA and protein expression for 5-HT(3A) and 5-HT(3B) subunits in Bt(2)cAMP treated and untreated NG cells were observed. It was also found that fluorescent intensity for the 5-HT(3B) subunit in the cell body of the Bt(2)cAMP treated and untreated NG cells gradually decreased from the day 1-5 after Bt(2)cAMP treatment. However, in specific areas such as the varicosity and nerve endings of the Bt(2)cAMP treated cells, staining intensity for the 5-HT(3B) subunits was stronger than in the untreated cells at the all time points, peaking at day 5 post-treatment. These results suggest that the augmented response induced by 5-HT acting via 5-HT(3) receptors in differentiated NG cells may be due to changes in the relative amount of the 5-HT(3B) subunit, particularly the ratio and distribution of the 5-HT(3A) to (3B) subunits.     

Uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine by mast cells in vivo: a cytofluorometric study of mast cells and individual mast cell granules.

Uptake, distribution and turnover of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was studied by cytofluorometric analysis of whole mast cells and individual granules. Injection of 5-HT as well as 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) intraperitoneally or subcutaneously resulted in a parallel uptake of 5-HT in cells and granules. Intraperitoneal injections of 5-HT in such small quantities that may be available under physiological conditions resulted in an increase in fluorescence intensity of the mast cells, indicating a very efficient uptake mechanism for 5-HT in vivo. Much larger doses of 5-HTP were required to obtain a corresponding uptake of 5-HT in the mast cells. The 5-HT was rather rapidly taken up in the granules and eliminated very slowly, at the same rate both from granules and mast cells. The low elimination rate confirms our previous findings that the turnover of 5-HT is much lower in mast cells than in other amine containing cell systems. The combination of an extremely efficient, rapid uptake of 5-HT with a slow elimination suggests a specific function for mast cells in the regulation of free amine concentrations in tissues.     

Amines of the mucosal mast cell of the gut in normal and nematode infected rats

Infection with the nematode N. brasiliensis is accompanied by a marked increase of the number of mucosal mast cells (MMC) and the mucosal content of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). We compared amine levels, determined by ion exchange and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with numbers of MMC and enterochromaffin cells (ECC). Furthermore, we measured 5-HT cytofluorometrically in individual MMC and ECC. The cellular distribution of 5-HT was studied immunohistochemically. Our results corroborate previous findings that histamine is stored in MMC. Quotients between histamine content and numbers of MMC decreased throughout the period of worm expulsion, followed by a recovery, suggesting a histamine release during this defense reaction. The HPLC analysis gave no evidence for a storage of dopamine in MMC. ECC and MMC of normal and infected rats showed a formaldehyde induced fluorescence and 5-HT immunoreactivity. The formaldehyde induced fluorescence of MMC from normal rats was about 10% that of ECC, but MMC exceeded ECC three times by numbers. These findings suggest that a considerable proportion of the intestinal 5-HT in the normal rat is stored in MMC. ECC numbers did not change during the infection and their content of 5-HT was unchanged, as judged by cytofluorometry. The cytofluorometric measurements showed that the intensity of the monoamine fluorescence from the MMC of infected animals was about three times as high as that of controls. It was concluded that the increased tissue levels of 5-HT was due to both an increase in MMC numbers and an increase in the 5-HT content of individual MMC. The results suggest a different role for histamine and 5-HT in the defense reaction towards the nematode infection.     

Noninvasive imaging of 5-HT3 receptor trafficking in live cells: from biosynthesis to endocytosis

Sequential stages in the life cycle of the ionotropic 5-HT(3) receptor (5-HT(3)R) were resolved temporally and spatially in live cells by multicolor fluorescence confocal microscopy. The insertion of the enhanced cyan fluorescent protein into the large intracellular loop delivered a fluorescent 5-HT(3)R fully functional in terms of ligand binding specificity and channel activity, which allowed for the first time a complete real-time visualization and documentation of intracellular biogenesis, membrane targeting, and ligand-mediated internalization of a receptor belonging to the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily. Fluorescence signals of newly expressed receptors were detectable in the endoplasmic reticulum about 3 h after transfection onset. At this stage receptor subunits assembled to form active ligand binding sites as demonstrated in situ by binding of a fluorescent 5-HT(3)R-specific antagonist. After novel protein synthesis was chemically blocked, the 5-HT(3) R populations in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi cisternae moved virtually quantitatively to the cell surface, indicating efficient receptor folding and assembly. Intracellular 5-HT(3) receptors were trafficking in vesicle-like structures along microtubules to the cell surface at a velocity generally below 1 mum/s and were inserted into the plasma membrane in a characteristic cluster distribution overlapping with actin-rich domains. Internalization of cell surface 5-HT(3) receptors was observed within minutes after exposure to an extracellular agonist. Our orchestrated use of spectrally distinguishable fluorescent labels for the receptor, its cognate ligand, and specific organelle markers can be regarded as a general approach allowing subcellular insights into dynamic processes of membrane receptor trafficking.     

Uptake of 5-Hydroxytryptamine by mast cells in vivo: A cytofluorometric study of mast cells and individual mast cell granules

Summary Uptake, distribution and turnover of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was studied by cytofluorometric analysis of whole mast cells and individual granules. Injection of 5-HT as well as 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) intraperitoneally or subcutaneously resulted in a parallel uptake of 5-HT in cells and granules. Intraperitoneal injections of 5-HT in such small quantities that may be available under physiological conditions resulted in an increase in fluorescence intensity of the mast cells, indicating a very efficient uptake mechanism for 5-HT in vivo. Much larger doses of 5-HTP were required to obtain a corresponding uptake of 5-HT in the mast cells. The 5-HT was rather rapidly taken up in the granules and eliminated very slowly, at the same rate both from granules and mast cells. The low elimination rate confirms our previous findings that the turnover of 5-HT is much lower in mast cells than in other amine containing cell systems. The combination of an extremely efficient, rapid uptake of 5-HT with a slow elimination suggests a specific function for mast cells in the regulation of free amine concentrations in tissues.Supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council, Project no 2235     

Superresolution imaging of multiple fluorescent proteins with highly overlapping emission spectra in living cells

Localization-based superresolution optical imaging is rapidly gaining popularity, yet limited availability of genetically encoded photoactivatable fluorescent probes with distinct emission spectra impedes simultaneous visualization of multiple molecular species in living cells. We introduce PAmKate, a monomeric photoactivatable far-red fluorescent protein, which facilitates simultaneous imaging of three photoactivatable proteins in mammalian cells using fluorescence photoactivation localization microscopy (FPALM). Successful probe identification was achieved by measuring the fluorescence emission intensity in two distinct spectral channels spanning only ∼100 nm of the visible spectrum. Raft-, non-raft-, and cytoskeleton-associated proteins were simultaneously imaged in both live and fixed fibroblasts coexpressing Dendra2-hemagglutinin, PAmKate-transferrin receptor, and PAmCherry1-β-actin fusion constructs, revealing correlations between the membrane proteins and membrane-associated actin structures.     

Cytofluorometric quantitation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and heparin in individual mast cell granules.

Cytofluorometric quantitation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and heparin in individual mast cell granules is described. The technique is based on micromanipulation of intact mast cells reacted with formaldehyde or stained with Berberine sulfate and the use of a cytofluorometer equipped with a sensitive peak detecting device. The quantities of 5-HT and heparin contained in mast cell granules which are of the order of 10(-16) and 10(-13) g, respectively were expressed as relative fluorescence guanta. The results of measurements on representative samples of mast cell granules indicate that all granules contain heparin as well as 5-HT, and that there are large variations in both 5-HT and heparin content within the granule populations of individual cells. A dose dependent increase in 5-HT content in both cells and individual mast cell granules occurred 24 hr after the injection of 10--50 mg L-5-hydroxytryptophan/kg intraperitoneally. There was no evidence for an increase in the heparin content of granules or cells, indicating that a new synthesis of granular macromolecules is not required for the 5-HT uptake. The results further suggest that 5-HT may be stored initially in a cytoplasmic extragranular pool and then taken up in the mast cell granules.     

Cytofluorometric quantitation of 5-hydroxytryptamine in mast cells: an improved technique for the formaldehyde condensation reaction

A simple technique for the condensation of cellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with formaldehyde gas is described. The technique, which is especially suited for quantitative cytofluormetric studies, involves the generation of formaldehyde gas from dry paraformaldehyde in a closed reaction vessel with the addition of a measured quantity of water. The fluorescence yield of 5-HT was tested at various humidities. Optimal results were obtained with the addition of 100 mg water to a 1000 ml reaction vessel containing 6 g of dry paraformaldehyde. A major advantage of the method if the fact that the humidity during the reaction can be precisely controlled. The fluorescence yield of 5-HT, tested over a 50 day period showed excellent reproducibility. The stoichiometry of the reaction was tested by comparison of cytofluormetic data with that obtained by analysing the 5-HT content of pooled mast cells with an independent biochemical method. A highly satisfactory correlation (r = 0.96) was obtained within the range of 0.1 to 4 pg of 5-HT per cell. The limit of sensitivity of the cytofluorometric method was found to be of the order of 10(-13) g, and was determined by the fluorescence blank of the mast cells. This contributes to between 10 and 30 per cent of the total fluorescence emission from mast cells containing about 0.2 pg of 5-HT.