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In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

This protocol describes fluorescence imaging and analysis of the endogenous metabolic coenzymes, reduced nicotinamide adenine (phosphate) dinucleotide (NAD(P)H), and oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Autofluorescence imaging of NAD(P)H and FAD provides a label-free, nondestructive method to assess cellular metabolism.

Abstract

Cellular metabolism is the process by which cells generate energy, and many diseases, including cancer, are characterized by abnormal metabolism. Reduced nicotinamide adenine (phosphate) dinucleotide (NAD(P)H) and oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are coenzymes of metabolic reactions. NAD(P)H and FAD exhibit autofluorescence and can be spectrally isolated by excitation and emission wavelengths. Both coenzymes, NAD(P)H and FAD, can exist in either a free or protein-bound configuration, each of which has a distinct fluorescence lifetime-the time for which the fluorophore remains in the excited state. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) allows quantification of the fluorescence intensity and lifetimes of NAD(P)H and FAD for label-free analysis of cellular metabolism. Fluorescence intensity and lifetime microscopes can be optimized for imaging NAD(P)H and FAD by selecting the appropriate excitation and emission wavelengths. Metabolic perturbations by cyanide verify autofluorescence imaging protocols to detect metabolic changes within cells. This article will demonstrate the technique of autofluorescence imaging of NAD(P)H and FAD for measuring cellular metabolism.

Introduction

Metabolism is the cellular process of producing energy. Cellular metabolism encompasses multiple pathways, including glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and glutaminolysis. Healthy cells use these metabolic pathways to generate energy for proliferation and function, such as the production of cytokines by immune cells. Many diseases, including metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegeneration, are characterized by altered cellular metabolism1. For example, some cancer cell types have elevated rates of glycolysis, even in the presence of oxygen, to generate molecules for the synthesis of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids2<....

Protocol

1. Cell plating for imaging

  1. Aspirate the medium from an 80-90% confluent T-75 flask of MCF-7 cells, rinse the cells with 10 mL of sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and add 2 mL of 0.25% trypsin (1x) to detach the cells from the flask bottom.
  2. Incubate the flask at 37 °C for ~4 min. Check the cells under the microscope to confirm detachment.
  3. Immediately add 8 mL of culture medium to de-activate the trypsin.
  4. Collect the cells in a conical tube (15 mL or .......

Representative Results

The epithelial breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, was cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin-streptomycin. For fluorescence imaging, the cells were seeded at a density of 4 × 105 cells per 35 mm glass-bottom imaging dish 48 h before imaging. The cells were imaged before and after cyanide treatment using the protocols stated above. The goal of the cyanide experiment is to confirm spectral isolation of NAD(P)H and FAD fluorescence and validate the imaging system and a.......

Discussion

Autofluorescence intensity and lifetime imaging have been widely used to assess metabolism in cells21,55. FLIM is high resolution and therefore resolves single cells, which is important for cancer studies because cellular heterogeneity contributes to tumor aggression and drug resistance7,39,41,44,45

Acknowledgements

Funding sources include the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT RP200668) and Texas A&M University. Figure 1 was created with BioRender.com.

....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG)SigmaAC111980000; AC111980010; AC111980050; AC111980250
Antibiotic Antimicrobial (pen-strep)Gibco15240096
Cell SamplesAmerican Type Culture CollectionN/AMCF-7 cancer line
CellProfilerBroad InstituteN/AImage analysis software
Conical TubeVWR89039-66415 mL conical tube
DMEMThermoFisher11965092Culture media
FAD dichroic mirrorSemrockFF495-Di03-25x36495 nm
FAD emission filterSemrockFF01-550/88-25550/88 nm
FAD excitation filterSemrockFF01-458/64-25458/64 nm
FBSThermoFisher16000036
Fluorescence Lifetime Microscope3iN/A
Glass bottom dishMatTek CorpP35G-1.0-14-C
Multiphoton LaserCoherentN/A2P Coherent Laser, Tunable 680 nm-1080 nm
NAD(P)H dichroic mirrorSemrockFF409-Di03-25x36409 nm
NAD(P)H emission filterSemrockFF02-447/60-25447/60 nm
NAD(P)H excitation filterSemrockFF01-357/44-25357/44 nm
PBSThermoFisher70011044
Potassium CyanideSigma-Aldrich380970
SlideBooks 63iN/AImage acquisition software
SPCImageBecker & Hickl GmbHN/AFluorescence lifetime analysis software
Stage Top IncubatorokoLabN/A
TrypsinBiosciences786-262
UreaSigma-AldrichU5128
YG beadsPolysciences19096-2Yg microspheres (20.0 µm)

References

  1. Heikal, A. A. Intracellular coenzymes as natural biomarkers for metabolic activities and mitochondrial anomalies. Biomarkers in Medicine. 4 (2), 241-263 (2010).
  2. Georgakoudi, I., Quinn, K. P.

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AutofluorescenceNADHFADCellular MetabolismMulti photon Fluorescence Lifetime MicroscopyLive Cell ImagingNon destructive

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