This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants GM 100201 to I.F.S, and GM 048071 and GM 065830 to I.P.

Vi presentiamo le procedure dettagliate per l&#39;imaging locali Ca 2+ eventi nelle cellule SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma umano. Tali procedure possono essere adattati a immagine intracellulare Ca 2+ segnali in molti tipi cellulari 8-10. 1. Preparazione di cellule <ol><li> Cultura le cellule per essere ripreso secondo le istruzioni elencate sul sito web del fornitore. </li><li> Pochi giorni prima di imaging, le cellule coltivate raccolto in un pallone di coltura di tessuto utilizzando 1 ml di 0,25% tripsina / EDTA (2-3 min). Dopo il distacco, aggiungere un volume uguale di terreni di coltura per inattivare la tripsina. </li><li> Eseguire un numero di cellule utilizzando un emocitometro e sementi cellule in piatti di imaging con fondo di vetro ad una densità di 3-7 x 10 4 cellule per piatto. Selezionare le celle per esperimenti di imaging quando raggiungono il 60% di confluenza (2-3 giorni). </li></ol> 2. preparazione di soluzioni e reagenti <ol><li> Preparare un Ca 2+ -contenenti HEPES bufferedsoluzione salina (Ca 2+ -HBSS) composto (mM): 135 NaCl, KCl 5,4, 2 CaCl 2, 1 MgCl 2, 10 e 10 HEPES, glucosio; pH = 7,4 a temperatura ambiente (RT) con NaOH. Preparare Ca 2+ -HBSS senza l&#39;aggiunta di glucosio e conservare a 4 ° C; aggiungere alla soluzione di glucosio immediatamente prima dell&#39;uso. </li><li> Solubilizzare forme membrana permeanti della fluorescenza Ca 2+ indicatore Cal-520 (1 mM), CI-IP 3 (200 mM), e EGTA (100 mM) in dimetil solfossido (DMSO) contenente il 20% Pluronic F-127. Aliquota questi reagenti in provette Eppendorf e conservare, al riparo dalla luce e dall&#39;umidità, a -20 ° C. </li></ol> 3. celle di carico con membrana permeabile Cal-520, ci-IP 3 e EGTA <ol><li> Preparare il &quot;tampone di caricamento&quot; diluendo soluzioni di riserva di membrana permeabile Cal-520 e ci-IP 3 ad una concentrazione finale di 5 micron e 1 micron, rispettivamente, a Ca 2+ -HBSS. </li><li> Aspirare cusupporti lture e risciacquare cellule sostituendo media con Ca 2+ -HBSS tre volte. </li><li> Rimuovere Ca 2+ -HBSS e incubare cellule in tampone di caricamento per 60 minuti a temperatura ambiente al buio. </li><li> Rimuovere tampone di caricamento e lavare le cellule sostituendo media con Ca 2+ -HBSS tre volte. <ol><li> Se lo si desidera, in questa fase, celle di carico con EGTA / AM diluendo la soluzione madre di una concentrazione finale di 5 micron di Ca 2+ -HBSS e poi incubare cellule per 30-60 min a RT al buio. A seguito di questa incubazione, lavare le cellule tre volte con Ca 2+ -HBSS prima di procedere alla fase 3.5. </li></ol></li><li> Incubare le cellule a Ca 2+ -HBSS per 30 minuti per consentire la de-esterificazione di reagenti caricati. </li><li> Immediatamente prima di imaging, sostituire Ca 2+ -HBSS con &quot;fresco&quot; Ca 2+ -HBSS per rimuovere il colorante che potrebbe essere fuoriuscito nella vasca durante l&#39;incubazione finale. </li></ol> 4. Ca 2+ </sup&gt; Acquisizione Immagine <ol><li> Mettere una piccola goccia di olio per immersione sul &#39;obiettivo 100X APO TIRF (NA 1.49). </li><li> Montare il piatto di imaging sul palco del microscopio invertito e portare le cellule a fuoco con luce trasmessa. È importante proteggere il piatto di imaging per evitare movimenti durante la registrazione. </li><li> Illuminare le cellule con un laser 488 nm per eccitare Cal-520 e raccogliere fluorescenza emessa (λ&gt; 510 nm) utilizzando una fotocamera EMCCD ad alta velocità. NOTA: Il pacchetto software che opera il microscopio consente all&#39;utente di tradurre una lente di focalizzazione consentendo il fascio laser da introdurre sia sul bordo estremo della apertura posteriore dell&#39;obiettivo (per TIRF eccitazione) o più centralmente (per l&#39;eccitazione &quot;WF&quot;). </li><li> Utilizzando il software EMCCD, ridurre il campo dell&#39;imaging dai pieni 512 x 512 pixel per raccogliere dati a risoluzione temporale necessaria per catturare locali Ca 2+ eventi. NOTA: Per esempio, quad centroacquisizione di 256 x 256 pixels accelera il tasso di acquisizione di 66 fps. È anche possibile aumentare ulteriormente la frequenza di quadro della telecamera EMCCD a 500 fps utilizzando una funzione modalità coltura isolata. </li><li> Configurare il software per registrare automaticamente pochi secondi di attività di base, fornire un lampo UV alle cellule e continuare la registrazione per altri 10-30 secondi. NOTA: Un flash UV viene trasportato utilizzando una sorgente di luce ad arco allo xeno introdotto attraverso un UV riflettente specchio dicroico nella porta posteriore del microscopio. La durata e l&#39;intensità del flash UV è regolata empiricamente ad evocare una frequenza desiderata di locali Ca 2+ eventi. </li><li> Salvare i file come immagine pile per l&#39;analisi off-line. </li></ol> 5. Automated Ca 2+ Analysis Immagine NOTA: E &#39;possibile visualizzare, elaborare e analizzare i dati acquisiti utilizzando molti pacchetti software commerciali. Tuttavia, abbiamo sviluppato un algoritmo per automatizzare rapidamente all&#39;identificazione di und analisi dei locali Ca 2+ segnali. Una descrizione dettagliata dei filtri spaziali e temporali utilizzati in questo algoritmo, generazione di Af / F 0 e identificazione / analisi di routine può essere trovato in 11. Questo algoritmo è stato sviluppato per funzionare su piattaforma software Python open-source, e può essere ottenuto, insieme ai campioni di dati sperimentali e istruzioni di utilizzo, inviando l&#39;autore corrispondente (ismith@uci.edu). <ol><li> Convertire i file da importare nella algoritmo personalizzato scritto nel formato di file multi-piano .tiff. </li><li> Individuare la cartella che contiene l&#39;algoritmo di analisi e fare doppio clic run.exe. </li><li> Selezionare il file .tiff da analizzare. </li><li> Scegli parametri di analisi nella finestra di dialogo aperta. Vedi Figura 2A per i parametri di default per i dati di esempio. </li><li> Determinare il livello di nero per essere compensato dalla pila dell&#39;immagine o spostando il cursore su una parte del campo di vista che fa not contengono una cella (Figura 2B) o inserendo manualmente un livello di nero con il prompt &#39;Set Black Level&#39;. </li><li> Osservare quattro finestre sullo schermo seguente analisi dal software (Figura 2C-F). C è una immagine in bianco e nero di riposo di fluorescenza dalle cellule in fase di analisi. Quadrati bianchi sovrapposti su questa immagine sono i luoghi per eventi, determinati come le posizioni baricentro delle funzioni gaussiana bidimensionali dotati di eventi. </li><li> Clicca su ogni luogo dell&#39;evento o premere i tasti cursore per scorrere tra gli eventi. Fatto questo il background-sottratto, gaussiana lisciato cambiamenti rapporto di fluorescenza (Af / F 0) a ciascuno di questi update siti finestra D. NOTA: Red evidenziato eventi sono determinati a provenire da quel particolare sito e non da &#39;sanguinare-through&#39; dall&#39;attività localizzata a siti adiacenti. La traccia blu inferiore indica se il segnale di fluorescenza al sito selezionato superato il rilevamentosoglia, mentre la linea nera identifica eventi provenienti da quel particolare sito (corrispondente al rosso eventi evidenziata). </li><li> Clicca su un rosso evidenziato evento per aggiornare finestra E che mostra l&#39;evoluzione temporale della manifestazione, e finestra F che mostra il profilo spaziale della manifestazione mediata su suo sviluppo nel tempo, insieme con il profilo spaziale della funzione gaussiana attrezzata. </li><li> Rivedere manualmente gli eventi che sono stati identificati in modo che gli artefatti possono essere rifiutati dall&#39;analisi. Eliminare tali eventi facendo clic destro rosso evidenziato eventi. NOTA: Nelle nostre mani, Ca 2+ flusso attraverso i canali singoli IP 3 R evoca segnali con Af / F 0 su 0,11, quindi sono suscettibili di essere falsi positivi eventuali &quot;eventi&quot; rilevati sensibilmente più piccoli di questo. </li><li> Esportazione dei dati selezionando &#39;Salva in Excel&#39; o esportare i dati su una base per cella disegnando intorno alla cella di interesse e selezionare &#39;Salva CellR17 ;. Nota: i dati vengono salvati nella stessa cartella stack immagine originale. </li></ol>

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	<li>Berridge, M. J., Lipp, P., Bootman, M. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+versatility+and+universality+of+calcium+signalling.">The versatility and universality of calcium signalling.</a> Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 1 (1), 11-21 (2000).</li><li>Hill-Eubanks, D. C., Werner, M. E., Heppner, T. J., Nelson, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+signaling+in+smooth+muscle.">Calcium signaling in smooth muscle.</a> Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 3 (9), a004549 (2011).</li><li>Hagenston, A. M., Bading, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium+signaling+in+synapse-to-nucleus+communication.">Calcium signaling in synapse-to-nucleus communication.</a> Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 3 (11), a004564 (2011).</li><li>Berridge, M. 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P., Tsien, R. Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fluorescent+indicators+for+cytosolic+calcium+based+on+rhodamine+and+fluorescein+chromophores.">Fluorescent indicators for cytosolic calcium based on rhodamine and fluorescein chromophores.</a> J Biol Chem. 264 (14), 8171-8178 (1989).</li><li>Demuro, A., Parker, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+the+activity+and+localization+of+single+voltage-gated+Ca(2+)+channels+by+total+internal+reflection+fluorescence+microscopy.">Imaging the activity and localization of single voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.</a> Biophys J. 86 (5), 3250-3259 (2004).</li><li>Smith, I. F., Parker, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+the+quantal+substructure+of+single+inositol+trisphosphate+receptor+channel+activity+during+calcium+puffs+in+intact+mammalian+cells.">Imaging the quantal substructure of single inositol trisphosphate receptor channel activity during calcium puffs in intact mammalian cells.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106 (15), 6404-6409 (2009).</li><li>Reissner, K. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+postsynaptic+mechanism+for+heterosynaptic+sharing+of+short-term+plasticity.">A novel postsynaptic mechanism for heterosynaptic sharing of short-term plasticity.</a> J Neurosci. 30 (26), 8797-8806 (2010).</li><li>Ellefson, K. 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The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Descriviamo qui di protocolli per l&#39;imaging locali Ca 2+ eventi in cellule di mammifero utilizzando fluorescenti Ca 2+ indicatori. Inoltre, descriviamo un algoritmo con un&#39;interfaccia utente intuitiva che consente di automatizzare l&#39;identificazione e l&#39;analisi dei dati acquisiti. La procedura descritta qui utilizzare la fluorescenza Ca 2+ indicatore Cal-520, ma molti altri Ca 2+ coloranti sensibili come Fluo-3, Fluo-4, Fluo-8 e Oregon verde BAPTA-1 eseguire suf...

Ioni calcio (Ca 2+) regolano ubiquitariamente una vasta gamma di processi biologici, tra cui l&#39;espressione genica, la secrezione e cambiamenti duraturi nella plasticità sinaptica 1. Un modo attraverso il quale Ca 2+ può agire in modo così eterogeneo è attraverso i diversi modelli spaziali e temporali di Ca 2+ segnala una cellula in grado di generare. Ad esempio aumenti globali in citosolico [Ca 2+] contrazione grilletto nel tessuto muscolare liscio 2 mentre più piccola, aumenti transitori localizzati (locali Ca 2+ microdomini) stimolare l&#39;espressione genica indispensabile per l&#39;apprendimento e la memoria 3. Citosolico libero [Ca 2+] viene mantenuta a ~ 100 nm a riposo, ma può rapidamente salire a diversi micro-molare dopo l&#39;afflusso di Ca 2+ nel citoplasma attraverso Ca 2+ canali ionici -permeable situati nella membrana plasmatica e la liberazione di Ca 2+ da s intracellulariTores. Il nostro laboratorio si concentra sulla inositolo 1,4,5-trifosfato recettore (IP 3 R), che forma un canale di rilascio Ca 2+ trova nella membrana del reticolo endoplasmatico (ER). In seguito al legame di entrambi IP 3 e Ca 2+ al citosolico attivando siti del recettore, il canale IP 3 R apre per liberare Ca 2+ sequestrato nel lume ER. Il rilascio di Ca 2+ può rimanere spazialmente limitata ad un piccolo gruppo di IP 3 Rs per generare un microdomini citosolico locale del Ca 2+ (Ca 2+ sfoglia 4) oppure, a seconda della prossimità del cluster vicini di IP 3 Rs, può propagare una cella con l&#39;assunzione di più siti sfoglia attraverso un processo di Ca 2+ indotta Ca 2+ -release (CICR) 5,6. L&#39;introduzione di piccole molecole fluorescenti Ca 2+ indicatore coloranti sviluppato da Roger Tsien 7, insieme con avanzate di microscopia Imagitecniche ng, ha notevolmente facilitato la nostra comprensione di Ca 2+ segnalazione. I recenti progressi nella telecamere utilizzate per microscopia permettono ora per l&#39;imaging transitori locali Ca 2+ eventi come sbuffi con risoluzione spaziale e temporale senza precedenti. Attualmente disponibili telecamere EMCCD consentono di imaging con 128 x 128 pixel a&gt; 500 fotogrammi sec -1 (fps) e la nuova generazione di complementari a semiconduttore metallo-ossido (CMOS) telecamere forniscono pixel di risoluzione più alta, e la velocità ancora più veloce a scapito della leggermente superiore livelli di rumore. In combinazione con la riflessione interna (TIRF) microscopia totale è ora possibile per singola immagine Ca 2+ eventi di canale 8,9. Questo approccio permette di immagini di centinaia di canali / eventi contemporaneamente, mentre la generazione di grandi quantità di dati (circa 1Gb al minuto) che rendono l&#39;elaborazione manuale, identificazione visiva e l&#39;analisi impraticabile e pongono un onere per lo sviluppo di algoritmi automatizzati. 2+ segnali nelle cellule di mammifero intatte utilizzando fluorescenti Ca 2+ indicatori. Dimostriamo inoltre un algoritmo sviluppato in ambiente Python open-source che automatizza l&#39;identificazione e l&#39;analisi dei locali Ca 2+ eventi immaginati sia TIRF e convenzionale ampio campo epi-fluorescenza (WF) microscopia. Anche se descriviamo questi approcci nel contesto di IP 3 -Generata Ca 2+ segnali, essi sono facilmente suscettibili di studiare i cambiamenti locali in citosolico [Ca 2+] provenienti da una varietà di Ca 2+ canali ionici -permeable situate sia in superficie membrana o organelli intracellulari 8-10.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1055">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:813px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalogue No.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CRL-2266</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cal-520/AM</td>
			<td>AAT Bioquest Inc.</td>
			<td>21130</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">ci-IP3 (D-23-O-Isopropylidene-6-O-(2-nitro-4.5-dimethoxy)benzyl-myo-Inositol 145-trisphosphate-Hexakis(propionoxymethyl)</td>
			<td>SiChem</td>
			<td>cag-iso-2-145-10</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DMSO/20% pluronic F127</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>P-3000MP</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">EGTA/AM</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>E-1219</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">35 mm glass-bottom imaging dishes</td>
			<td>MatTek</td>
			<td>P35-1.5-14-C</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

imaging local ca2+ signals in cultured mammalian cells

Ca citosolico 2 + ioni regolano numerosi aspetti della attività cellulare in quasi tutti i tipi di cellule, il controllo dei processi più ampio respiro, come la trascrizione genica, eccitabilità elettrica e la proliferazione cellulare. La diversità e la specificità di Ca 2+ segnale deriva da meccanismi con cui Ca 2+ segnali vengono generati ad agire su diversi temporali e spaziali scale, che vanno da oscillazioni e onde a livello delle cellule che si verificano durante i periodi di minuti per locali transitorie Ca 2+ microdomini (Ca 2+) sbuffi millisecondi duraturi. I recenti progressi nella elettroni moltiplicati CCD (EMCCD) telecamere ora consente l&#39;imaging di locali Ca 2+ segnali con una risoluzione spaziale 128 x 128 pixel a velocità&gt; 500 fotogrammi sec -1 (fps). Questo approccio è altamente parallelo e consente il monitoraggio simultaneo di centinaia di canali o siti sfoglia in un singolo esperimento. Tuttavia, la grande quantità di dati generati (ca. 1 pe Gbr min) rendono identificazione visiva e l&#39;analisi di Ca 2+ locale eventi impraticabile. Qui si descrivono e dimostrare le procedure per l&#39;acquisizione, la rilevazione e l&#39;analisi di IP locale 3 mediata Ca 2+ segnali nelle cellule dei mammiferi intatte cariche di Ca 2+ indicatori utilizzando sia a livello di campo epi-fluorescenza (WF) e la riflessione interna totale fluorescenza (TIRF) microscopia. Inoltre, descriviamo un algoritmo sviluppato all&#39;interno del software dell&#39;ambiente Python open-source che automatizza l&#39;identificazione e l&#39;analisi di questi locali Ca 2+ segnali. L&#39;algoritmo localizza i siti di rilascio di Ca 2+ con una risoluzione sub-pixel; permette recensione dei dati; e uscite sequenze temporali di segnali rapporto di fluorescenza con ampiezza e dati cinetici in una tabella compatibile con Excel.

La figura 1A mostra un&#39;immagine WF di riposo Cal-520 di fluorescenza in cellule di neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y umani anche carichi di ci-IP 3. L&#39;esposizione di queste cellule di un lampo di 100 msec UV per foto-release i-IP 3 suscitato transitori Ca 2+ sbuffi in siti discreti (rilevate dai cerchi bianchi in Figura 1A). Tracce di fluorescenza misurati a questi siti hanno mostrato una rapida fase di lievitazione causa aperture transitori di IP 3</su...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells at JoVE.com

Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells

Here we present techniques for imaging local IP3-mediated Ca2+ events using fluorescence microscopy in intact mammalian cells loaded with Ca2+ indicators together with an algorithm that automates identification and analysis of these events.

Imaging locale Ca<sup&gt; 2+</sup&gt; Segnali in cellule di mammifero coltivate

Cytosolic Ca2+ ions regulate numerous aspects of cellular activity in almost all cell types, controlling processes as wide-ranging as gene transcription, ...

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Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells

10.7K Views.  University of California, Irvine. Here we present techniques for imaging local IP3-mediated Ca2+ events using fluorescence microscopy in intact mammalian cells loaded with Ca2+ indicators together with an algorithm that automates identification and analysis of these events.

Video: Imaging Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Mammalian Cells

Long-term Imaging Mammalian Cells using Wide-Field Microscopy

Actually what I'm gonna do, mount it in here first and then swap out You. So now I'm gonna aspirate try and be as gentle as possible.Okay. A few seconds just holding.Okay.Alright.So the important features of our lifestyle imaging grid are that, so it's an inverted scope, which means the objective, the samples here in the objective is underneath. So the objective is pointing up and the whole scope, or practically the whole, practically the whole scope, including the objectives and the sample are at 37 degrees. So everything in this plastic box is at 37 degrees.And right on top of the stage we have an air and CO2 mix. That is 5%CO2. So the idea is that the sample is actually in a cell, it's like a cell incubator.And so we have, this is our mixer for the air and the CO2 and, and it gets humidified and heated and then piped onto the, the sample on the stage.Okay. And today we're just gonna be doing fluorescence one channel GFP fluorescence. This is the hose that the CO2 and 5%CO2 goes in and it just fits into the stage holder.That's important. And then we can close these, take these down, and then we go to our first position. And what I'm gonna do is go to the first field, which is my control sample, and I'll pick positions based on what I see on the screen.So I just make sure I actually look into the microscope in each new, well, because the focal plane for each of the wells is different, the, the dish is not perfectly flat on the bottom. So you will need to make fine adjustments when you move from well to the well. So right now I'm on the first, well, what I'll do is I'll focus, so I just hit, I just told, I just turned on the light, the transmitted light for the microscope.And I have make sure all the light is going to the eye pieces. And so I just look in, make sure I get a nice clean field. And then what I'll do is turn that light off, turn the fluorescence light on, make sure the cells that I'm looking at look healthy and they're not apoptotic.And, and I turn that off. And what I do next is send, so now I'm gonna start picking positions, which means I have to te send the light path to the camera. This is the camera right here.So I tell the microscope to send all the camera, they don't see anything in the eye pieces. What I'll do is in the software controlling the microscope, I'll choose the right filter set, which for our purposes is psy. And then set an exposure time.And I know these cells very well and I know that they take a 0.2 second exposure time. So I tell, that's what I tell the software to do. And what I'll do is hit focus.This is, and it's basically just alive. The, A light will turn on and you can, oh, I don't know if you can see cells, but the reason this is a good field is because there's, all the cells are, even in terms of their fluorescence, There are no apoptotic cells. Apoptotic cells tend to be very bright and there's no dirt or schmutz in the field.And you can see that they're actually, this is a metaphase cell and that's a metaphase cell, that's a cell that's probably just exited mitosis. And I can just tell that because it looks like those are, those two sets of chromatin are very nicely oriented to each other. Like they just exited an face.So that's a good field. So, and now that I know that the exposure time and the filter set is correct, and this is gonna be software specific, I'll go and I'll take positions and now the software has memorized the X, Y, Z position of that field. And then when I do pick another field, it's, and I'll, so when I'm picking, when I'm picking new fields, but in the same, well, I'll use the, I'll move the i'll, I'll turn the shutter, I'll open the shutter and I'll look to see what I see on the screen and I'll pick fields based on that versus looking in the field.So I don't see any of my tonics in there. But again, even nicely centered, these cells will go through my PS I continue, here's a good example. Here's a good example of what I would avoid that, see how bright that is?That's very bright. That's probably remnants of an apoptotic cell. And the reason I would avoid that is because since it's so bright, when the software auto focuses, it will autofocus just on that and it won't be in the same plane as all these other cells.And so I won't get any information from that field. That looks nice. There's a, this is a pro metaphase right here, That's A metaphase.So, and I'm gonna take three positions per well. So that was three positions and now I'm going to go to my next Well, so you can, so what I will probably do is take images every 10 minutes. So it's a compromise.Lifestyle imaging is always a compromise, right? You have to image, you have to keep the cells healthy, especially if you're interested in mitosis. So you have to minimize their exposure to the fluorescent line.And, but you wanna get information. So you have to take images, you have to, so you have to compromise, you have to make a choice about what you want to capture, what kind of information you wanna capture. For our purposes, mitosis tends to take about an hour.So if we're taking 10 minute intervals, that's pretty good. We see prophase, we see metaphase, we see anaphase, and we can, we can see when there are, there are treatments or drugs or siRNAs that affect those specific cell cycle stages. So for our purposes, that's enough, but we always want more.We always want more positions or finer time and interval or something like that. So it's a compromise. So, and then I'll hit start.And so our software, it does an autofocusing pass on the first pass. So once I hit start, it should start auto autofocusing and you'll see the shutter open, open and close between auto focusing. So I'll hit start.So that's the shutter opening and closing. The Z motor is engaging and it's actually trying to find the plane with the most contrast, which will be the most in focus. You can actually see on the screen going in and out of finding the best plane of focus that might be worrisome.So what it does is it, it drives the Z motor to find the best, the most in focus plane focus, well the most in image. And then it acquires picture there and then it learns that Z position. And then we'll use that Z position for the next 12 passes.And then we'll do the auto focusing pass again. What Kind of experiments do they do? Okay, so our lab is mostly interested in understanding what regulates mitic progression, or at least I'm most interested in understanding that.So with live cell imaging and especially our multi position, long-term imaging scope, you can take, you can film cells for two or three days entering anding mitosis, and you can image multiple rounds of mitosis so you can understand. And then you can put drugs or RNAs or any kind of perturbations on the cells that you would like to study. So you can understand how, how those drugs or, or genes are, are important in regulating mitotic progression.Because it's not fixed cell work and live cell work, you can understand what, when you need to have a perturbation to affect mitosis or what stage of mitosis is affected. So it's really powerful in that respect. What, what are the main technical elements of this experiments?What are the possible problems? Well, the biggest problem besides getting the rig set up, getting the rig set up is not trivial. A lot of people have the rig, but just making sure it works well for your application.The financial element is not, you know, is not small. So there's the setting up of the apparatus and then, and then once you gather the data, there's a real data analysis issue. It takes these movie, if, so, if you're gathering 40 movies each with 30 cells, so you have 40 in 40 fields that you just filmed and each of those fields has 30 cells, then you have to sit down with each one of those movies and look at each one of those cells in that movie.So it takes a really long time to do data analysis. And that's, so it takes a week to analyze data that it took you two days to collect. So there's a, that's a very big obstacle in terms of gathering lots of data.So it's not, while it's high throughput data collection, it's not high throughput analysis. So what would you make to make this experiment really high throughput? So our lab is in the process of developing a program that does the data analysis automatically.And it's a pretty decent program. It's not perfect. The human eye is always better, but it's getting there.So What are the interesting application of this experiment? Maybe other fields you can mention? Besides cell division?You mean for the, oh, for the live cell imaging? Yes.Well, you can do cell motility assays. You can, depending on the, the microscopy that's involved, you can, you know, look at how cells, you could look at tumor development if you really wanted to.But there, you, you're, if as long as you have the right imaging set up, you can, you're pretty much not limited in terms of anything. Our scope happens to be just a wide field and we use 20 by 20 x objective. So it's a pretty low resolution set up, but that's sufficient for what we need to see.So there are, but there definitely aren't, you wouldn't be limited. Anything that has any dynamic kind of experiment, which is biology, it would be, would really benefit from lifestyle imaging. So calcium imaging, although you couldn't do it on our apparatus, that's a live cell.You definitely need live cell imaging for that. Like I said, patient assays, motility assays, those kinds of things would really benefit from live cell imaging. Would you like to tell a few words about your previous experience?How long do you work on these techniques? What do you you work on before? Wow.So in my PhD I didn't work.I did a lot of confocal microscopy, but no lifestyle imaging. And so during my postdoc I was, I helped Dr.King get this apparatus that, that we just used to set up these fragment, get that up and running. And, and so during my postdoc, I had a lot of experience with both widefield with TimeLapse imaging on our scope, which is the widefield and also TimeLapse imaging with confocal microscopy.And I would say that it's really powerful. You get a lot of information, but it's not easy to get working perfectly. So it really requires a lot of attention and a lot of attention to details at every little step of the process.And, and then you still have problems. So it's a tough application, but you can really get, if, if it's what you need to have to, to study your problem, your scientific problem, then it, it's invaluable in that respect, but it's tough. So find someone who knows what they're doing and use them.That's my advice. So good.

A lungo termine Imaging cellule di mammifero utilizzando Wide-Field Microscopia

Ricerca

Biologia

Live Imaging of Dense-core Vesicles in Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Observing and characterizing dynamic cellular processes can yield important information about cellular activity that cannot be gained from static images.  Vital fluorescent probes, particularly green fluorescent protein (GFP) have revolutionized cell biology stemming from the ability to label specific intracellular compartments and cellular structures. For example, the live imaging of GFP (and its spectral variants) chimeras have allowed for a dynamic 
analysis of the cytoskeleton, organelle transport, and membrane dynamics in a multitude of organisms and cell types [1-3].  Although live imaging has become prevalent, this approach still poses many technical challenges, particularly in primary cultured neurons.  One challenge is the expression of GFP-tagged proteins in post-mitotic neurons; the other is the ability to capture fluorescent images while minimizing phototoxicity, photobleaching, 
and maintaining general cell health.  Here we provide a protocol that describes a lipid-based transfection method that yields a relatively low transfection rate (~0.5%), however is ideal for the imaging of fully polarized neurons.  A low transfection rate is essential so that single axons and dendrites can be characterized as to their orientation to the cell body to confirm directionality of transport, i.e., anterograde v. retrograde.  Our approach to imaging 
GFP expressing neurons relies on a standard wide-field fluorescent microscope outfitted with a CCD camera, image capture software, and a heated imaging chamber. We have imaged a wide variety of organelles or structures, for example, dense-core vesicles, mitochondria, growth cones, and actin without any special optics or excitation requirements other than a fluorescent light source. Additionally, spectrally-distinct, fluorescently 
labeled proteins, e.g., GFP and dsRed-tagged proteins, can be visualized near simultaneously to characterize co-transport or other coordinated cellular events.  The imaging approach described here is flexible for a variety of imaging applications and can be adopted by a laboratory for relatively little cost provided a microscope is available.

Live cell imaging is of particular utility when studying the dynamics of organelle trafficking. Here we describe a protocol for live imaging of dense-core vesicles in cultured neurons using wide-field fluorescence microscopy. This protocol is flexible and can be adapted to image other organelles such as mitochondria, endosomes, and peroxisomes.

Immagini dal vivo di Dense-core Vescicole nella Primaria neuroni coltivati ​​ippocampale

Observing and characterizing dynamic cellular processes can yield important information about cellular activity that cannot be gained from static images.  ...

Techniques for Imaging Ca2+ Signaling in Human Sperm

Fluorescence microscopy of cells loaded with fluorescent, Ca2+-sensitive dyes is used for measurement of spatial and temporal aspects of Ca2+ signaling in live cells. Here we describe the method used in our laboratories for loading suspensions of human sperm with Ca2+-reporting dyes and measuring the fluorescence signal during physiological stimulation. Motile cells are isolated by direct swim-up and incubated under capacitating conditions for 0-24 h, depending upon the experiment. The cell-permeant AM (acetoxy methyl ester) ester form of the Ca2+-reporting dye is then added to a cell aliquot and a period of 1 h is allowed for loading of the dye into the cytoplasm. We use visible wavelength dyes to minimize photo-damage to the cells, but this means that ratiometric recording is not possible. Advantages and disadvantages of this approach are discussed. During the loading period cells are introduced into an imaging chamber and allowed to adhere to a poly-D-lysine coated coverslip. At the end of the loading period excess dye and loose cells are removed by connection of the chamber to the perfusion apparatus. The chamber is perfused continuously, stimuli and modified salines are then added to the perfusion header. Experiments are recorded by time-lapse acquisition of fluorescence images and analyzed in detail offline, by manually drawing regions of interest. Data are normalized to pre-stimulus levels such that, for each cell (or part of a cell), a graph showing the Ca2+ response as % change in fluorescence is obtained.

Techniques for Imaging Ca2+ Signaling in Human Sperm

Stimulus-evoked [Ca2+]i signals of individual human sperm are assessed. Motile cells are loaded with Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye (AM-ester method) and immobilised in a perfusable chamber. Cells are imaged by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and stimulated via the perfusing medium. Responses of single cells (or regions) are analysed offline using Excel.

Tecniche di Imaging Ca 2 + Segnalazione di sperma umano

Fluorescence microscopy of cells loaded with fluorescent, Ca2+-sensitive dyes is used for measurement of spatial and temporal aspects of Ca2+ signaling in ...

MISSION esiRNA for RNAi Screening in Mammalian Cells

RNA interference (RNAi) is a basic cellular mechanism for the control of gene expression. RNAi is induced by short double-stranded RNAs also known as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The short double-stranded RNAs originate from longer double stranded precursors by the activity of Dicer, a protein of the RNase III family of endonucleases. The resulting fragments are components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), directing it to the cognate target mRNA. RISC cleaves the target mRNA thereby reducing the expression of the encoded protein1,2,3. RNAi has become a powerful and widely used experimental method for loss of gene function studies in mammalian cells utilizing small interfering RNAs.
Currently two main methods are available for the production of small interfering RNAs. One method involves chemical synthesis, whereas an alternative method employs endonucleolytic cleavage of target specific long double-stranded RNAs by RNase III in vitro. Thereby, a diverse pool of siRNA-like oligonucleotides is produced which is also known as endoribonuclease-prepared siRNA or esiRNA. A comparison of efficacy of chemically derived siRNAs and esiRNAs shows that both triggers are potent in target-gene silencing. Differences can, however, be seen when comparing specificity. Many single chemically synthesized siRNAs produce prominent off-target effects, whereas the complex mixture inherent in esiRNAs leads to a more specific knockdown10.
In this study, we present the design of genome-scale MISSION esiRNA libraries and its utilization for RNAi screening exemplified by a DNA-content screen for the identification of genes involved in cell cycle progression. We show how to optimize the transfection protocol and the assay for screening in high throughput. We also demonstrate how large data-sets can be evaluated statistically and present methods to validate primary hits. Finally, we give potential starting points for further functional characterizations of validated hits.

Here we use a human esiRNA library in a high-throughput screen for genes involved in cell division. We demonstrate how to set up and conduct an esiRNA screens, as well as how to analyze and validate the results.

EsiRNA MISSIONE per lo screening RNAi in cellule di mammifero

RNA interference (RNAi) is a basic cellular mechanism for the control of gene expression. RNAi is induced by short double-stranded RNAs also known as ...

Fluorescence-based Measurement of Store-operated Calcium Entry in Live Cells: from Cultured Cancer Cell to Skeletal Muscle Fiber

Store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), earlier termed capacitative Ca2+ entry, is a tightly regulated mechanism for influx of extracellular Ca2+ into cells to replenish depleted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ stores1,2. Since Ca2+ is a ubiquitous second messenger, it is not surprising to see that SOCE plays important roles in a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, gene transcription and motility. Due to its wide occurrence in nearly all cell types, including epithelial cells and skeletal muscles, this pathway has received great interest3,4. However, the heterogeneity of SOCE characteristics in different cell types and the physiological function are still not clear5-7.
The functional channel properties of SOCE can be revealed by patch-clamp studies, whereas a large body of knowledge about this pathway has been gained by fluorescence-based intracellular Ca2+ measurements because of its convenience and feasibility for high-throughput screening. The objective of this report is to summarize a few fluorescence-based methods to measure the activation of SOCE in monolayer cells, suspended cells and muscle fibers5,8-10. The most commonly used of these fluorescence methods is to directly monitor the dynamics of intracellular Ca2+ using the ratio of F340nm and F380nm (510 nm for emission wavelength) of the ratiometric Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. To isolate the activity of unidirectional SOCE from intracellular Ca2+ release and Ca2+ extrusion, a Mn2+ quenching assay is frequently used. Mn2+ is known to be able to permeate into cells via SOCE while it is impervious to the surface membrane extrusion processes or to ER uptake by Ca2+ pumps due to its very high affinity with Fura-2. As a result, the quenching of Fura-2 fluorescence induced by the entry of extracellular Mn2+ into the cells represents a measurement of activity of SOCE9. Ratiometric measurement and the Mn+2 quenching assays can be performed on a cuvette-based spectrofluorometer in a cell population mode or in a microscope-based system to visualize single cells. The advantage of single cell measurements is that individual cells subjected to gene manipulations can be selected using GFP or RFP reporters, allowing studies in genetically modified or mutated cells. The spatiotemporal characteristics of SOCE in structurally specialized skeletal muscle can be achieved in skinned muscle fibers by simultaneously monitoring the fluorescence of two low affinity Ca2+ indicators targeted to specific compartments of the muscle fiber, such as Fluo-5N in the SR and Rhod-5N in the transverse tubules9,11,12.

The extent of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) can be monitored using fluorescent Ca2+ indicators. Mn2+ quenching of such indicators assays SOCE in cultured cells and skeletal muscle fibers. A technique allowing spatial and temporal resolution of SOCE by confocal imaging of mechanically skinned muscle fibers is also described.

Basato sulla fluorescenza Misura Store-Entry operato di calcio in cellule vive: dal Cancer Cell coltura per fibra muscolare scheletrica

Store operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), earlier termed capacitative Ca2+ entry, is a tightly regulated mechanism for influx of extracellular Ca2+ into cells to ...

Analysis of Cell Cycle Position in Mammalian Cells

The regulation of cell proliferation is central to tissue morphogenesis during the development of multicellular organisms. Furthermore, loss of control of cell proliferation underlies the pathology of diseases like cancer. As such there is great need to be able to investigate cell proliferation and quantitate the proportion of cells in each phase of the cell cycle. It is also of vital importance to indistinguishably identify cells that are replicating their DNA within a larger population. Since a cell&prime;s decision to proliferate is made in the G1 phase immediately before initiating DNA synthesis and progressing through the rest of the cell cycle, detection of DNA synthesis at this stage allows for an unambiguous determination of the status of growth regulation in cell culture experiments.
DNA content in cells can be readily quantitated by flow cytometry of cells stained with propidium iodide, a fluorescent DNA intercalating dye. Similarly, active DNA synthesis can be quantitated by culturing cells in the presence of radioactive thymidine, harvesting the cells, and measuring the incorporation of radioactivity into an acid insoluble fraction. We have considerable expertise with cell cycle analysis and recommend a different approach. We Investigate cell proliferation using bromodeoxyuridine/fluorodeoxyuridine (abbreviated simply as BrdU) staining that detects the incorporation of these thymine analogs into recently synthesized DNA. Labeling and staining cells with BrdU, combined with total DNA staining by propidium iodide and analysis by flow cytometry1 offers the most accurate measure of cells in the various stages of the cell cycle. It is our preferred method because it combines the detection of active DNA synthesis, through antibody based staining of BrdU, with total DNA content from propidium iodide. This allows for the clear separation of cells in G1 from early S phase, or late S phase from G2/M. Furthermore, this approach can be utilized to investigate the effects of many different cell stimuli and pharmacologic agents on the regulation of progression through these different cell cycle phases.
In this report we describe methods for labeling and staining cultured cells, as well as their analysis by flow cytometry. We also include experimental examples of how this method can be used to measure the effects of growth inhibiting signals from cytokines such as TGF-&beta;1, and proliferative inhibitors such as the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, p27KIP1. We also include an alternate protocol that allows for the analysis of cell cycle position in a sub-population of cells within a larger culture5. In this case, we demonstrate how to detect a cell cycle arrest in cells transfected with the retinoblastoma gene even when greatly outnumbered by untransfected cells in the same culture. These examples illustrate the many ways that DNA staining and flow cytometry can be utilized and adapted to investigate fundamental questions of mammalian cell cycle control.

Determining the cell cycle position of a population of cells, or understanding how signals affect proliferation, can be readily measured by flow cytometry using this protocol. We report a simple experimental approach to staining cells and quantifying their position in the cell cycle.

Analisi della posizione ciclo cellulare nelle cellule di mammifero

The regulation of cell proliferation is central to tissue morphogenesis during the development of multicellular organisms. Furthermore, loss of control of ...

Automated Analysis of Dynamic Ca2+ Signals in Image Sequences

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are commonly studied with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dyes and microscopy techniques. However, quantitative analysis of Ca2+ imaging data is time consuming and subject to bias. Automated signal analysis algorithms based on region of interest (ROI) detection have been implemented for one-dimensional line scan measurements, but there is no current algorithm which integrates optimized identification and analysis of ROIs in two-dimensional image sequences. Here an algorithm for rapid acquisition and analysis of ROIs in image sequences is described. It utilizes ellipses fit to noise filtered signals in order to determine optimal ROI placement, and computes Ca2+ signal parameters of amplitude, duration and spatial spread. This algorithm was implemented as a freely available plugin for ImageJ (NIH) software. Together with analysis scripts written for the open source statistical processing software R, this approach provides a high-capacity pipeline for performing quick statistical analysis of experimental output. The authors suggest that use of this analysis protocol will lead to a more complete and unbiased characterization of physiologic Ca2+ signaling.

Automated Analysis of Dynamic Ca2+ Signals in Image Sequences

Here a novel region of interest analysis protocol based on sorting best-fit ellipses assigned to regions of positive signal within two-dimensional time lapse image sequences is demonstrated. This algorithm may enable investigators to comprehensively analyze physiological Ca2+ signals with minimal user input and bias.

Analisi automatizzata del Dynamic Ca<sup&gt; 2 +</sup&gt; Segnali in sequenze di immagini

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are commonly studied with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dyes and microscopy techniques. However, quantitative analysis of Ca2+ ...

siRNA Screening to Identify Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-like System Regulators of Biological Pathways in Cultured Mammalian Cells

Post-translational modification of proteins with ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like molecules (UBLs) is emerging as a dynamic cellular signaling network that regulates diverse biological pathways including the hypoxia response, proteostasis, the DNA damage response and transcription.&#160; To better understand how UBLs regulate pathways relevant to human disease, we have compiled a human siRNA &#8220;ubiquitome&#8221; library consisting of 1,186 siRNA duplex pools targeting all known and predicted components of UBL system pathways. This library can be screened against a range of cell lines expressing reporters of diverse biological pathways to determine which UBL components act as positive or negative regulators of the pathway in question.&#160; Here, we describe a protocol utilizing this library to identify ubiquitome-regulators of the HIF1A-mediated cellular response to hypoxia using a transcription-based luciferase reporter.&#160; An initial assay development stage is performed to establish suitable screening parameters of the cell line before performing the screen in three stages: primary, secondary and tertiary/deconvolution screening. &#160;The use of targeted over whole genome siRNA libraries is becoming increasingly popular as it offers the advantage of reporting only on members of the pathway with which the investigators are most interested.&#160; Despite inherent limitations of siRNA screening, in particular false-positives caused by siRNA off-target effects, the identification of genuine novel regulators of the pathways in question outweigh these shortcomings, which can be overcome by performing a series of carefully undertaken control experiments.

Here, we describe a methodology to perform a targeted siRNA &#8220;ubiquitome&#8221; screen to identify novel ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like regulators of the HIF1A-mediated cellular response to hypoxia.&#160; This can be adapted to any biological pathway where a robust read out of reporter activity is available.

siRNA screening per identificare ubiquitina e ubiquitina-come regolatori del sistema di percorsi biologici in cellule di mammifero coltivate

Post-translational modification of proteins with ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like molecules (UBLs) is emerging as a dynamic cellular signaling network that ...

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Heme serves as the prosthetic group for a wide variety of proteins known as hemoproteins, such as hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes. It is involved in various molecular and cellular processes such as gene transcription, translation, cell differentiation and cell proliferation. The biosynthesis levels of heme vary across different tissues and cell types and is altered in diseased conditions such as anemia, neuropathy and cancer. This technique uses [4-14C] 5-aminolevulinic acid ([14C] 5-ALA), one of the early precursors in the heme biosynthesis pathway to measure the levels of heme synthesis in mammalian cells. This assay involves incubation of cells with [14C] 5-ALA followed by extraction of heme and measurement of the radioactivity incorporated into heme. This procedure is accurate and quick. This method measures the relative levels of heme biosynthesis rather than the total heme content. To demonstrate the use of this technique the levels of heme biosynthesis were measured in several mammalian cell lines.

Altered intracellular heme levels are associated with common diseases such as cancer. Thus, there is a need to measure heme biosynthesis levels in diverse cells. The goal of this protocol is to provide a fast and sensitive method to measure and compare the levels of heme synthesis in different cells.

La misurazione dei livelli Heme sintesi in cellule di mammifero

Heme serves as the prosthetic group for a wide variety of proteins known as hemoproteins, such as hemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes. It is involved in ...

Massively Parallel Reporter Assays in Cultured Mammalian Cells

The genetic reporter assay is a well-established and powerful tool for dissecting the relationship between DNA sequences and their gene regulatory activities. The potential throughput of this assay has, however, been limited by the need to individually clone and assay the activity of each sequence on interest using protein fluorescence or enzymatic activity as a proxy for regulatory activity. Advances in high-throughput DNA synthesis and sequencing technologies have recently made it possible to overcome these limitations by multiplexing the construction and interrogation of large libraries of reporter constructs. This protocol describes implementation of a Massively Parallel Reporter Assay (MPRA) that allows direct comparison of hundreds of thousands of putative regulatory sequences in a single cell culture dish.

The genetic reporter assay is a well-established and powerful tool for dissecting the relationship between DNA sequences and their gene regulatory activities. Coupling candidate regulatory elements to reporter genes that carry identifying sequence tags enables massive parallelization of these assays.

Methods Article

Imaging locale Ca