High-Throughput Image-Based Quantification of Mitochondrial DNA Synthesis and Distribution

Summary

A procedure for studying the dynamics of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) metabolism in cells using a multi-well plate format and automated immunofluorescence imaging to detect and quantify mtDNA synthesis and distribution is described. This can be further used to investigate the effects of various inhibitors, cellular stresses, and gene silencing on mtDNA metabolism.

Abstract

The vast majority of cellular processes require a continuous supply of energy, the most common carrier of which is the ATP molecule. Eukaryotic cells produce most of their ATP in the mitochondria by oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondria are unique organelles because they have their own genome that is replicated and passed on to the next generation of cells. In contrast to the nuclear genome, there are multiple copies of the mitochondrial genome in the cell. The detailed study of the mechanisms responsible for the replication, repair, and maintenance of the mitochondrial genome is essential for understanding the proper functioning of mitochondria and whole cells under both normal and disease conditions. Here, a method that allows the high-throughput quantification of the synthesis and distribution of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in human cells cultured in vitro is presented. This approach is based on the immunofluorescence detection of actively synthesized DNA molecules labeled by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and the concurrent detection of all the mtDNA molecules with anti-DNA antibodies. Additionally, the mitochondria are visualized with specific dyes or antibodies. The culturing of cells in a multi-well format and the utilization of an automated fluorescence microscope make it easier to study the dynamics of mtDNA and the morphology of mitochondria under a variety of experimental conditions in a relatively short time.

Introduction

For most eukaryotic cells mitochondria are essential organelles, as they play a crucial role in numerous cellular processes. First and foremost, mitochondria are the key energy suppliers of cells¹. Mitochondria are also involved in regulating cellular homeostasis (for instance, intracellular redox² and the calcium balance³), cell signaling^4,5, apoptosis⁶, the synthesis of different biochemical compounds^7,8, and the innate immune response⁹

Protocol

1. Preparation of the siRNA mixture

1. One day before the start of the experiment, seed cells (e.g., HeLa) on a 100 mm dish so that they reach 70%-90% confluence the next day.
   NOTE: All operations must be carried out under sterile conditions in a laminar flow chamber.
2. Prepare the appropriate amount of siRNA diluted to a concentration of 140 nM in Opti-MEM medium (see Table of Materials). A 96-well plate can be used as a reservoir.
3. Add 5 µL of the siRNA solution (or Opti-MEM medium for the control samples) to each well of a black 384-well cell culture microplate.
   NOTE: Depending on the nu....

Results

A scheme of the procedure for the high-throughput study of the dynamics of mtDNA synthesis and distribution is shown in Figure 1. The use of a multi-well plate format enables the simultaneous analysis of many different experimental conditions, such as the silencing of different genes using a siRNA library. The conditions used for the labeling of newly synthesized DNA molecules with BrdU allow for the detection of BrdU-labeled DNA in the mitochondria of HeLa cells (Figure.......

Discussion

Historically, DNA labeling by BrdU incorporation and antibody detection has been used in nuclear DNA replication and cell cycle research^14,27,28. So far, all the protocols for detecting BrdU-labeled DNA have included a DNA denaturation step (acidic or thermal) or enzyme digestion (DNase or proteinase) to enable epitope exposure and facilitate antibody penetration. These protocols were developed for tightly packed nuclear DNA. Ho.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2′,3′-Dideoxycytidine (ddC)	Sigma-Aldrich	D5782
384  Well Cell Culture Microplates, black	Greiner Bio-One	#781946
5-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU)	Sigma-Aldrich	B5002-1G	Dissolve BrdU powder in water to 20 mM stock solution and aliquot. Use 20 µM BrdU solution for labeling.
Adhesive sealing film	Nerbe Plus	04-095-0060
Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-mouse IgG1 secondary antibody	Thermo Fisher Scientific	A-21121
Alexa Fluor 555 goat anti-mouse IgM secondary antibody	Thermo Fisher Scientific	A-21426
BioTek 405 LS microplate washer	Agilent
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)	Sigma-Aldrich	A4503
Cell counting chamber Thoma	Heinz Herenz	REF:1080339
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)	Cytiva	SH30243.01
Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM)	Thermo Fisher Scientific	41965-062
Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)	Thermo Fisher Scientific	10270-106
Formaldehyde solution	Sigma-Aldrich	F1635	Formaldehyde is toxic; please read the safety data sheet carefully.
Hoechst 33342	Thermo Fisher Scientific	H3570
IgG1 mouse monoclonal anti-BrdU (IIB5) primary antibody	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	sc-32323
IgM mouse monoclonal anti-DNA (AC-30-10) primary antibody	Progen	#61014
LightCycler 480 System	Roche
Lipofectamine RNAiMAX Transfection Reagent	Thermo Fisher Scientific	#13778150
MitoTracker Deep Red FM	Thermo Fisher Scientific	M22426	Mitochondria tracking dye
Multidrop Combi Reagent Dispenser	Thermo Fisher Scientific
Opti-MEM	Thermo Fisher Scientific	51985-042
Orca-R2 (C10600) CCD Camera	Hamamatsu
Penicillin-Streptomycin	Sigma-Aldrich	P0781-100ML
Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)	Sigma-Aldrich	P4417-100TAB
PowerUp SYBR Green Master Mix	Thermo Fisher Scientific	A25742
qPCR primer Fw B2M (reference)			CAGGTACTCCAAAGATTCAGG
qPCR primer Fw GPI (reference gene)			GACCTTTACTACCCAGGAGA
qPCR primer Fw MT-ND1			TAGCAGAGACCAACCGAACC
qPCR primer Fw POLG			TGGAAGGCAGGCATGGTCAAACC
qPCR primer Fw TFAM			GATGAGTTCTGCCTGCTTTAT
qPCR primer Fw TWNK			GCCATGTGACACTGGTCATT
qPCR primer Rev B2M (reference)			GTCAACTTCAATGTCGGATGG
qPCR primer Rev GPI (reference gene)			AGTAGACAGGGCAACAAAGT
qPCR primer Rev MT-ND1			ATGAAGAATAGGGCGAAGGG
qPCR primer Rev POLG			GGAGTCAGAACACCTGGCTTTGG
qPCR primer Rev TFAM			GGACTTCTGCCAGCATAATA
qPCR primer Rev TWNK			AACATTGTCTGCTTCCTGGC
ScanR microscope	Olympus
siRNA Ctrl	Dharmacon	D-001810-10-5
siRNA POLG	Invitrogen	POLGHSS108223
siRNA TFAM	Invitrogen	TFAMHSS144252
siRNA TWNK	Invitrogen	C10orf2HSS125597
Suction device	NeoLab	2-9335	Suction device for cell culture
Triton X-100	Sigma-Aldrich	T9284-500ML
Trypsin	Biowest	L0931-500
UPlanSApo 20x 0.75 NA objective	Olympus