Name: cell electrofusion visualized with fluorescence microscopy
Uploaded: 2010-07-01T17:00:00
Duration: 5 min 2 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Cell Electrofusion Visualized with Fluorescence Microscopy at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the Slovenian Research Agency (project J2-9764 and programme P2-0249). This video represents supplementary material for the "Electroporation-based Technologies and Treatments" scientific workshop and postgraduate course, organized by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

I. Loading the cells with Cell trackers CMFDA and CMRA
<ol>
 <li>Experiments were performed on previously prepared cells of mouse melanoma cell line (B16-F1). Cells are grown in two separated 25 cm2 culture flasks (TPP, ZDA) to 70-80 % confluence in DMEM culture medium (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium) supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum, 0.15 mg/ml L-glutamine, 16 mg/ml gentamicin (all from Sigma-Aldrich, Germany), 200 units/ml crystacillin (Pliva, Croatia), and incubated in 5% CO2 at 37&deg;C.</li>
 <li>Prepare two 10 mM stock solutions of Cell trackers (Invitrogen, USA) by adding 10.76 &mu;l and 9 &mu;l (for Green CMFDA and for Orange CMRA, respectively) of DMSO (Sigma-Aldrich, Germany) to 50 &mu;g of the dye in the original Invitrogen vial. The stock solution can be stored in a refrigerator at 4&deg;C for few months. Before starting the experiments, warm up the solution until the crystals of DMSO dissolve.</li>
 <li>Prepare bicarbonate-free Krebs-Hepes buffer (130 mM NaCl, 4.7 mM KCl, 1.2 mM MgSO4 , 1.2 mM KH2PO4, 11.7 mM D-glucose, 1.3 mM CaCl2, 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4). In two 15 ml Eppendorf tubes separately mix 2.1 &mu;l of each stock solution (10 mM CMFDA or CMRA, respectively) in 3 ml of bicarbonate-free Krebs-Hepes buffer. This yields a "loading solution" containing approximately 7 &mu;M CMFDA (or CMRA).</li>
 <li>Rinse cells twice with bicarbonate-free Krebs-Hepes buffer and then insert loading solutions into the flasks. Incubate cells for 30 minutes in 5% CO2 at 37 &deg;C. During this first incubation reagents pass freely through cell membranes, but once inside the cell, the reagents are transformed into cell-impermeant fluorescent reaction products.</li>
 <li>After first incubation, rinse and incubate cells with culture medium for another two hours in 5% CO2 at 37&deg;C.</li>
 <li>Trypsinize cells in both flasks (loaded with CMFDA and CMRA) and mix red and green cells together in a ratio 1:1 in a 50 ml centrifuge tube (TPP, ZDA). Adjust cell concentration to 5 x 106 cells/ml by dilution with DMEM medium or by concentration with centrifuge. Place a 20 &mu;l drop of cell suspension in each well of 24 multiwell plate (TPP, ZDA). Incubate cells in 5 % CO2 at 37 &deg;C for 20 min to allow them to slightly attach to the surface of the well and establish cell contacts.</li>
</ol>
II. Electrofusion
<ol>
 <li>Prepare isoosomolar potassium phosphate buffer (10 mM KH2PO4, 10 mM K2HPO4, 1mM MgCl2, 250 mM sucrose) and hypoosmolar potassium phosphate buffer (10 mM KH2PO4, 10 mM K2HPO4, 1mM MgCl2, 75 mM sucrose).</li>
 <li>Place the multiwell with cells onto the microscope stage, position the electrodes at the bottom of the well and connect them to the pulse generator.</li>
 <li>Wash the cells with 1 ml of isoosomolar potassium phosphate buffer. Add 350 &mu;l of hypoosmolar potassium phosphate buffer in order to induce cell swelling. The buffer should cover the electrodes.</li>
 <li>Leave cells in hypoosmolar buffer for 2 minutes before applying electric pulses. During this time influx of water molecules into the cells due to osmotic imbalance between the interior and the exterior of the cells cause an increase of cell volume. Electric pulses should be applied when cells are close to their maximum volumes, before regulatory volume decrease start.</li>
 <li>To achieve optimal electrofusion and maintain cell viability, optimal parameters of electric pulses should be used. These depend on cell line used [1]. In this experiment a train of 8 rectangular pulses (each with duration of 100 &mu;s at 1 Hz) is applied to each sample, using electroporation device (in our case Cliniporator, IGEA, Italy). The pulses are delivered to two parallel Pt/Ir wire electrodes with 0.8 mm diameter and 5 mm distance between them, creating an electric field of approximately 1200 V/cm between the electrodes in each well, except for the control well.</li>
 <li>Leave the cells undisturbed for 10 minutes after pulse delivery. Determine the fusion yield by means of fluorescent and phase contrast microscopy.</li>
</ol>
III. Image acquisition and determination of the fusion yield
<ol>
 <li>The cells are observed using a fluorescence microscope (in our case Zeiss AxioVert 200, Zeiss, Germany) equipped with an objective (x20) and a cooled CCD camera (VisiCam 1280, Visitron, Germany). The images are acquired in MetaMorph 7.1.1 (Molecular Devices, USA), but other similar acquisition software can also be used. CMFDA is excited with a monochromator (Polychrome IV, Visitron, Germany) at 492 nm and CMRA at 548 nm. The fluorescence of CMFDA and CMRA is acquired using two emission filters, one centered at 535 nm (HQ535/30m, for CMFDA) and the other centered at 510 nm (D605/55m, for CMRA, both Chroma, USA). The use of dichroic mirror (Q515LP) prevented the channel cross talk.</li>
 <li>Acquire three images (phase contrast, red and green fluorescence) for five randomly chosen fields in each well. Create three channel images from each image triplet. In such image fluorescing cytoplasm can be seen together with the cell membranes. Fused cells can thus be easily determined [Figure 1].</li>
 <li>Count all three types of cells (red, green and dually fluorescent) in each three channel image. Determine the percentage of dually fluorescent cells by dividing the number of dually fluorescent cells with the number of all cells in each image. Fusion yield is defined as the percentage of dually fluorescent cells multiplied by 2 since half of fused cells are not detected (when cells of the same color fuse). </li>
</ol>
Representative Results
<img src="/files/ftp_upload/1991/1991fig1.jpg" alt="Figure 1" /> Figure 1. Three channel microscopy image of B16F1 cells after electrofusion: phase contrast, CMRA fluorescence (excitation at 548 nm) and CMFDA fluorescence (excitation at 492 nm), objective magnification 20x

<ol>
	<li>&#268;emazar, M., Jarm, T., Miklav&#269;i&#269;, D., Ma&#269;ek-Lebar, A., Ihan, A., Kopitar, N. A., Ser&#353;a, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+electric-field+intensity+on+electropermeabilization+and+electrosensitivity+of+various+tumor-cell+lines+in+vitro.">Effect of electric-field intensity on electropermeabilization and electrosensitivity of various tumor-cell lines in vitro.</a> Electro. Magnetobiol. 17, 263-272 (1998).</li><li>Trontelj, K., Reber&#353;ek, M., Kandu&#353;er, M., &#269;urin &#353;erbec, V., Miklav&#269;i&#269;, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimization+of+bulk+cell+electrofusion+in+vitro+for+production+of+human-mouse+heterohybridoma+cells.">Optimization of bulk cell electrofusion in vitro for production of human-mouse heterohybridoma cells.</a> Bioelectrochemistry. 74, 124-129 (2008).</li><li>Rols, M. -. P., Teissi&#233;, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Modulation+of+electrically+induced+permeabilization+and+fusion+of+Chinese+hamster+ovary+cells+by+osmotic+pressure.">Modulation of electrically induced permeabilization and fusion of Chinese hamster ovary cells by osmotic pressure.</a> Biochemistry. 29, 4561-4567 (1990).</li><li>Neil, G., Zimmermann, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrofusion.">Electrofusion.</a> Methods in Enzymology. 220, 174-196 .</li><li>Abidor, I. G., Li, L. -. H., Hui, S. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Studies+of+cell+pellets:+II.+Osmotic+properties,+electroporation,+and+related+phenomena:+Membrane+interactions.">Studies of cell pellets: II. Osmotic properties, electroporation, and related phenomena: Membrane interactions.</a> Biophysical journal. 67, 427-435 (1994).</li><li>Jaroszeski, M. J., Gilbert, R., Fallon, P. G., Heller, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanically+facilitated+cell-cell+electrofusion.">Mechanically facilitated cell-cell electrofusion.</a> Biophys J. 67 (4), 1574-1581 (1994).</li><li>Ramos, C., Bonefant, D., Teissi&#233;, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+hybridization+by+electrofusion+on+filters.">Cell hybridization by electrofusion on filters.</a> Analytical biochemistry. 302, 213-219 (2002).</li><li>Cao, Y., Yang, J., Yin, Z. Q. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Study+of+high-throughput+cell+electrofusion+in+a+microelectrode-array+chip.">Study of high-throughput cell electrofusion in a microelectrode-array chip.</a> Microfluid Nanofluid. 5, 669-675 (2008).</li><li>U&#353;aj, M., Trontelj, M., Kandu&#353;er, M., Miklav&#269;i&#269;, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+size+dynamics+and+viability+of+cells+exposed+to+hypotonic+treatment+and+electroporation+for+electrofusion+optimization.">Cell size dynamics and viability of cells exposed to hypotonic treatment and electroporation for electrofusion optimization.</a> Radiol. Oncol. 43, 108-119 (2009).</li><li>Teissi&#233;, J., Ramos, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Correlation+between+electric+field+pulse+induced+long-lived+permeabilization+and+fusogenicity+in+cell+membranes.">Correlation between electric field pulse induced long-lived permeabilization and fusogenicity in cell membranes.</a> Biophys. J. 74, 1889-1898 (1998).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

The ability of cell membranes to fuse non-specifically, e.g., by external electric fields, is important for biotechnology, medicine and research in biology. Such nonspecific fusion enables production of highly valuable hybrid cells and their products, such as monoclonal antibodies, and provides information about fundamental mechanisms of fusion [2]. Electrofusion is a potentially very effective method since it can be properly adjusted to different types of cells. Electrofusion is achieved when cells in close physical contact are brought into their fusogenic state (prone to fusion) by means of high-voltage electric pulses. The efficiency of electrofusion depends on various parameters that affect two parts of the electrofusion process. First part of the electrofusion process is achievement of the close physical contact between cells, which can be obtained with different methods [3-8]. Adherence method (growing cells to confluence) can be used efficiently due to spontaneously established cell contacts in large zones between cells; however, it produces very large fused cells with many nuclei. We are using the modified adherence method, where smaller cells (with 2 to 5 nuclei), which are more likely to survive and proliferate, are obtained (Figure 1). Contact between cells also benefit from osmotic swelling of cells, due to osmotic treatment used in the experiment [9]. Second part of the electrofusion process is the achievement of the fusogenic state of the cell membranes. Fusogenic state correlates well with electropermeabilized state of the membrane (cells are non-specifically permeabilized to molecules that normally cannot pass through intact membrane) and is governed by the same parameters of the electric pulses (amplitude, length, number and frequency) [10]. The values of electrical parameters needed for optimal electroporation [1] and electrofusion differ between different cells and depend on cells size and their biological properties. Electrical parameters thus need to be optimized for different cell lines, which are used as fusion partners, to obtain fusion.

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		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
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		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>CMRA</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>C34551</td>
<td>Cytosolic fluorescent dye</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CMFDA</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>C7025</td>
<td>Cytosolic fluorescent dye</td>
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<td>DMSO</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>D2650</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>DMEM </td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich </td>
<td>D5671</td>
<td>Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium</td>
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<td>Fetal calf serum</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>F4135</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>L-glutamine</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
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<td>gentamicin</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>G1397</td>
<td>antibiotic</td>
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<td>Hepes</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>H0887</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>KH2PO4</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Merck </td>
<td>A124873 927</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>KH2PO4</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>4248</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>MgCl2</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>M-8266</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>NaCl</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Fluka</td>
<td>71382</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Merck</td>
<td>A154336 908</td>
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<td>MgSO4</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>M2643</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>D-glucose</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>G8270</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>CaCl2</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>C4901</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>sucrose</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>16104</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Electric pulse generator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Igea</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Cliniporator VITAE</td>
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<td>Multiwell plate</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>TPP</td>
<td>92424</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>50 ml centrifuge tube</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>TPP</td>
<td>91050</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>15 ml centrifuge tube</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>TPP</td>
<td>91015</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
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<td>25 cm2 culture flask</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>TPP</td>
<td>90026</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Electrodes</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Custom made</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Pt/Ir</td>
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cell electrofusion visualized with fluorescence microscopy

Cell electrofusion is a safe, non-viral and non-chemical method that can be used for preparing hybrid cells for human therapy. Electrofusion involves application of short high-voltage electric pulses to cells that are in close contact. Application of short, high-voltage electric pulses causes destabilization of cell plasma membranes. Destabilized membranes are more permeable for different molecules and also prone to fusion with any neighboring destabilized membranes. Electrofusion is thus a convenient method to achieve a non-specific fusion of very different cells in vitro. In order to obtain fusion, cell membranes, destabilized by electric field, must be in a close contact to allow merging of their lipid bilayers and consequently their cytoplasm. In this video, we demonstrate efficient electrofusion of cells in vitro by means of modified adherence method. In this method, cells are allowed to attach only slightly to the surface of the well, so that medium can be exchanged and cells still preserve their spherical shape. Fusion visualization is assessed by pre-labeling of the cytoplasm of cells with different fluorescent cell tracker dyes; half of the cells are labeled with orange CMRA and the other half with green CMFDA. Fusion yield is determined as the number of dually fluorescent cells divided with the number of all cells multiplied by two.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Cell Electrofusion Visualized with Fluorescence Microscopy at JoVE.com

Cell Electrofusion Visualized with Fluorescence Microscopy

In this video we demonstrate efficient electrofusion of cells in vitro by means of modified adherence method using electroporation and the subsequent detection of fused cells visualization with fluorescence microscopy.

Cell electrofusion is a safe, non-viral and non-chemical method that can be used for preparing hybrid cells for human therapy. Electrofusion involves ...

cell-electrofusion-visualized-with-fluorescence-microscopy

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

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Immobilization of virions to glass surfaces is a critical step in single virion imaging. Here we present a technique&#160;adopted from single molecule ...

Visualizing Stromule Frequency with Fluorescence Microscopy

Stromules, or "stroma-filled tubules", are narrow, tubular extensions from the surface of the chloroplast that are universally observed in plant cells but whose functions remain mysterious. Alongside growing attention on the role of chloroplasts in coordinating plant responses to stress, interest in stromules and their relationship to chloroplast signaling dynamics has increased in recent years, aided by advances in fluorescence microscopy and protein fluorophores that allow for rapid, accurate visualization of stromule dynamics. Here, we provide detailed protocols to assay stromule frequency in the epidermal chloroplasts of Nicotiana benthamiana, an excellent model system for investigating chloroplast stromule biology. We also provide methods for visualizing chloroplast stromules in vitro by extracting chloroplasts from leaves. Finally, we outline sampling strategies and statistical approaches to analyze differences in stromule frequencies in response to stimuli, such as environmental stress, chemical treatments, or gene silencing. Researchers can use these protocols as a starting point to develop new methods for innovative experiments to explore how and why chloroplasts make stromules.

Protocols to investigate the dynamics of chloroplast stromules, the stroma-filled tubules that extend from the surface of chloroplasts, are described.

Stromules, or "stroma-filled tubules", are narrow, tubular extensions from the surface of the chloroplast that are universally observed in plant cells but ...

Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy of Plant Roots Growing on the Surface of a Gel

One of the key questions in understanding plant development is how single cells behave in a larger context of the tissue. Therefore, it requires the observation of the whole organ with a high spatial- as well as temporal resolution over prolonged periods of time, which may cause photo-toxic effects. This protocol shows a plant sample preparation method for light-sheet microscopy, which is characterized by mounting the plant vertically on the surface of a gel. The plant is mounted in such a way that the roots are submerged in a liquid medium while the leaves remain in the air. In order to ensure photosynthetic activity of the plant, a custom-made lighting system illuminates the leaves. To keep the roots in darkness the water surface is covered with sheets of black plastic foil. This method allows long-term imaging of plant organ development in standardized conditions.

This protocol shows a plant sample preparation method for light-sheet microscopy. The setup is characterized by mounting the plant vertically on the surface of a gel and letting it grow in controlled bright conditions. This allows long-term observation of plant organ development in standardized conditions.

One of the key questions in understanding plant development is how single cells behave in a larger context of the tissue. Therefore, it requires the ...

Live Cell Fluorescence Microscopy to Observe Essential Processes During Microbial Cell Growth

Core cellular processes such as DNA replication and segregation, protein synthesis, cell wall biosynthesis, and cell division rely on the function of proteins which are essential for bacterial survival. A series of target-specific dyes can be used as probes to better understand these processes. Staining with lipophilic dyes enables the observation of membrane structure, visualization of lipid microdomains, and detection of membrane blebs. Use of fluorescent-d-amino acids (FDAAs) to probe the sites of peptidoglycan biosynthesis can indicate potential defects in cell wall biogenesis or cell growth patterning. Finally, nucleic acid stains can indicate possible defects in DNA replication or chromosome segregation. Cyanine DNA stains label living cells and are suitable for time-lapse microscopy enabling real-time observations of nucleoid morphology during cell growth. Protocols for cell labeling can be applied to protein depletion mutants to identify defects in membrane structure, cell wall biogenesis, or chromosome segregation. Furthermore, time-lapse microscopy can be used to monitor morphological changes as an essential protein is removed and can provide additional insights into protein function. For example, the depletion of essential cell division proteins results in filamentation or branching, whereas the depletion of cell growth proteins may cause cells to become shorter or rounder. Here, protocols for cell growth, target-specific labeling, and time-lapse microscopy are provided for the bacterial plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Together, target-specific dyes and time-lapse microscopy enable characterization of essential processes in A. tumefaciens. Finally, the protocols provided can be readily modified to probe essential processes in other bacteria.

Understanding the function of essential processes in bacteria is challenging. Fluorescence microscopy with target-specific dyes can provide key insights into microbial cell growth and cell cycle progression. Here, Agrobacterium tumefaciens is used as a model bacterium to highlight methods for live cell imaging for characterization of essential processes.

Core cellular processes such as DNA replication and segregation, protein synthesis, cell wall biosynthesis, and cell division rely on the function of ...