Name: image processing protocol for the analysis of the diffusion and cluster size of membrane receptors by fluorescence microscopy
Uploaded: 2019-04-09T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Image Processing Protocol for the Analysis of the Diffusion and Cluster Size of Membrane Receptors by Fluorescence Microscopy at JoVE.com

We are thankful to Carlo Manzo and Maria Garc&#237;a Parajo for their help and source code of the diffusion coefficient analysis. This work was supported in part by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (SAF 2017-82940-R) and the RETICS Program of the Instituto de salud Carlos III (RD12/0009/009 and RD16/0012/0006; RIER). LMM and JV are supported by the COMFUTURO program of the Fundaci&#243;n General CSIC.

1. Preparation of Biological Samples
<ol>
	<li>Grow Jurkat cells in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FCS, NaPyr and L-glutamine (complete RPMI). Electroporate Jurkat cells (20 x 106 cells/400 &#181;L of RPMI 1640 with 10% FCS) with a monomeric GFP-labelled chemokine receptor vector (CXCR4-AcGFP, 20 &#956;g) to allow its detection using fluorescence microscopy. 
	NOTE: It is possible to use other monomeric fluorescent proteins such as mCherry, mScarlet, etc.</li>
	<li>24 h after tr...

<ol>
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Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+with+total+internal+reflection+fluorescence+microscopy+for+the+cell+biologist.">Imaging with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy for the cell biologist.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 123 (Pt 21), 3621-3628 (2010).</li><li>Jaqaman, K., 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=Robust+single-particle+tracking+in+live-cell+time-lapse+sequences.">Robust single-particle tracking in live-cell time-lapse sequences.</a> Nature Methods. 5 (8), 695-702 (2008).</li><li>Bakker, G. 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=Lateral+mobility+of+individual+integrin+nanoclusters+orchestrates+the+onset+for+leukocyte+adhesion.">Lateral mobility of individual integrin nanoclusters orchestrates the onset for leukocyte adhesion.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A. 109 (13), 4869-4874 (2012).</li><li>Kusumi, A., Sako, Y., Yamamoto, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Confined+lateral+diffusion+of+membrane+receptors+as+studied+by+single+particle+tracking+(nanovid+microscopy).+Effects+of+calcium-induced+differentiation+in+cultured+epithelial+cells.">Confined lateral diffusion of membrane receptors as studied by single particle tracking (nanovid microscopy). Effects of calcium-induced differentiation in cultured epithelial cells.</a> Biophysical Journal. 65 (5), 2021-2040 (1993).</li><li>Ferrari, R. M., Manfroi, A. J., Young, W. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strongly+and+weakly+self-similar+diffusion.">Strongly and weakly self-similar diffusion.</a> Physica D. 154, 111-137 (2001).</li><li>Sbalzarini, I. F., Koumoutsakos, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Feature+point+tracking+and+trajectory+analysis+for+video+imaging+in+cell+biology.">Feature point tracking and trajectory analysis for video imaging in cell biology.</a> Journal of Structural Biology. 151 (2), 182-195 (2005).</li><li>Ewers, H., 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=Single-particle+tracking+of+murine+polyoma+virus-like+particles+on+live+cells+and+artificial+membranes.">Single-particle tracking of murine polyoma virus-like particles on live cells and artificial membranes.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A. 102 (42), 15110-15115 (2005).</li><li>Manzo, C., Garcia-Parajo, M. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+review+of+progress+in+single+particle+tracking:+from+methods+to+biophysical+insights.">A review of progress in single particle tracking: from methods to biophysical insights.</a> Report on Progress in Physics. 78 (12), 124601 (2015).</li><li>Calebiro, D., 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=Single-molecule+analysis+of+fluorescently+labeled+G-protein-coupled+receptors+reveals+complexes+with+distinct+dynamics+and+organization.">Single-molecule analysis of fluorescently labeled G-protein-coupled receptors reveals complexes with distinct dynamics and organization.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A. 110 (2), 743-748 (2013).</li><li>Digman, M. A., Dalal, R., Horwitz, A. 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The described method is easy to perform even without having any previous experience working with Matlab. However, Matlab routines require extremely accuracy with the nomenclature of the different commands and the localization of the different folders employed by the program. In the tracking analysis routine (step 3), multiple parameters can be modified. The &#34;Setting Gaussian-Mixture Model Fitting&#34; window (step 3.8) controls how U-track will detect single particles on the video. This is done by fitting a Gaussian ...

Membrane proteins embedded in the lipid bilayer are in continuous movement due to thermal diffusion. Their dynamics are essential to regulate cell responses, as intermolecular interactions allow formation of complexes that vary in size from monomers to oligomers and influence the stability of signaling complexes. Elucidating the mechanisms controlling protein dynamics is thus a new challenge in cell biology, necessary to understand signal transduction pathways and to identify unanticipated cell functions.
Some optical methods have been developed to study these interactions in living cells1. Among these, total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, developed in the early 1980s, allows the study of molecular interactions at or very near the cell membrane2. To study dynamic parameters of membrane protein trajectories obtained from TIRF data in living cells, a single particle tracking method (SPT)is required. Although several algorithms are available for this, we currently use those published by Jaqaman et al.3 that address particle motion heterogeneity in a dense particle field by linking particles between consecutive frames to connect the resulting track segments into complete trajectories (temporary particle disappearance). The software captures the particle merging and splitting that result from aggregation and dissociation events3. One of the output data of this software is detection of the particles along the entire trajectory by defining their X and Y positions in each frame.
Once particles are detected, we apply different algorithms to determine the short timelag diffusion coefficient (D1-4)4,5. By applying the Moment Scaling Spectrum (MSS)6,7,8 analysis or by fitting the &#39;alpha&#39; value by adjustment of the Mean Square Displacement (MSD) to the curve9, we also classify the particles according to the type of trajectory.
Analysis of spot intensity in fluorescence images is a shared objective for scientists in the field10,11. The most common algorithm used is the so-called Number and Brightness. This method nonetheless does not allow correct frame-by-frame intensity detection in particles in the mobile fraction. We have, thus, generated a new algorithm to evaluate these particle intensities frame-by-frame and to determine their aggregation state. Once the coordinates of each particle are detected using U-Track2 software3, we define its intensity in each frame over the complete trajectory, also taking into account the cell background in each frame. This software offers different possibilities to determine the spot intensity and the cell background and, using known monomeric and dimeric proteins as references, calculates the approximate number of proteins in the particle detected (cluster size).
In this article, we describe a careful guide to perform these three steps: 1) detecting and tracking single particles along a video of fluorescence microscopy using U-track; 2) analyzing the instantaneous diffusion coefficient (D1-4) of those particles and the type of movement (confined, free, or directed) of particles with long trajectories by MSS; 3) measuring the spot intensity along the video corrected by the estimated background fluorescence for each spot. This allows cluster size estimation and identification of the photobleaching steps.
The use of this protocol does not require specialized skills and can be performed in any laboratory with cell culture, flow cytometry and microscopy facilities. The protocol uses ImageJ or Fiji (a distribution of ImageJ12), U-track3, and some ad hoc made routines (http://i2pc.es/coss/Programs/protocolScripts.zip). U-track and ad hoc routines run over Matlab that can be installed in any compatible computer.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:797px;" width="797">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">Human Jurkat cells</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">ATCC</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">CRL-10915</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Human T cell line. Any other cell type can be analyzed with this software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:221px;">pAcGFPm-N1 (PT3719-5)DNA3GFP</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Clontech</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">632469</td>
			<td>Different fluorescent proteins can be followed and analyzed with this routine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:221px;">Gene Pulse X Cell electroporator&#160;</td>
			<td>BioRad&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td>We use 280V, 975 mF, for Jurkat cells.&#160; Use the transfection method best working in your hands.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cytomics FC 500 flow cytometer&#160;</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MoFlo Astrios Cell Sorter&#160;</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td>Depending on the level of transfection, cell sorting may not be required.&#160; You can also employ cells with stable expression of adequate levels of the receptor of interest.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">Dako Qifikit</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">DakoCytomation</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">K0078</td>
			<td>Used for quantification the number of receptors in the cell surface.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">Glass bottom microwell dishes</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">MatTek corporation</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">P35G-1.5-10-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:221px;">Human Fibronectin from plasma</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">F0895</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">Recombinant human CXCL12</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">PeproTech</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">300928A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">Inverted Leica AM TIRF</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Leica</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">EM-CCD camera</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Andor&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">DU 885-CSO-#10-VP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">MATLAB</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">The MathWorks, Natick, MA</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">U-Track2 software</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Danuser Laboratory</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">ImageJ</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">NIH</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td>https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">FiJi</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">FiJI</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td>https://imagej.net/Fiji)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">u-Track2 software</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td>Matlab tool.&#160; For installing, download .zip file from the web page (http://lccb.hms.harvard.edu/software.html) and uncompress the file in a directory of your choice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:221px;">GraphPad Prism</td>
			<td style="width:203px;">GraphPad software</td>
			<td style="width:203px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

image processing protocol for the analysis of the diffusion and cluster size of membrane receptors by fluorescence microscopy

Particle tracking on a video sequence and the posterior analysis of their trajectories is nowadays a common operation in many biological studies. Using the analysis of cell membrane receptor clusters as a model, we present a detailed protocol for this image analysis task using Fiji (ImageJ) and Matlab routines to: 1) define regions of interest and design masks adapted to these regions; 2) track the particles in fluorescence microscopy videos; 3) analyze the diffusion and intensity characteristics of selected tracks. The quantitative analysis of the diffusion coefficients, types of motion, and cluster size obtained by fluorescence microscopy and image processing provides a valuable tool to objectively determine particle dynamics and the consequences of modifying environmental conditions. In this article we present detailed protocols for the analysis of these features. The method described here not only allows single-molecule tracking detection, but also automates the estimation of lateral diffusion parameters at the cell membrane, classifies the type of trajectory and allows complete analysis thus overcoming the difficulties in quantifying spot size over its entire trajectory at the cell membrane.

The use of this protocol allows the automated tracking of particles detected in fluorescence microscopy movies and the analysis of their dynamic characteristics. Initially, cells are transfected with the fluorescently-coupled protein to be tracked. The appropriate level of receptors presents on the cell surface that allows SPT is obtained by cell sorting (Figure 1). Selected cells are analyzed by TIRF microscopy that generates videos in a format that can be s...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Image Processing Protocol for the Analysis of the Diffusion and Cluster Size of Membrane Receptors by Fluorescence Microscopy at JoVE.com

Image Processing Protocol for the Analysis of the Diffusion and Cluster Size of Membrane Receptors by Fluorescence Microscopy

Here, we present a protocol for single particle tracking image analysis that allows quantitative evaluation of diffusion coefficients, types of motion and cluster sizes of single particles detected by fluorescence microscopy.

Particle tracking on a video sequence and the posterior analysis of their trajectories is nowadays a common operation in many biological studies. Using ...

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