Name: analyzing the &alpha;-actinin network in human ipsc-derived cardiomyocytes using single molecule localization microscopy
Uploaded: 2020-11-03T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analyzing the Î±-Actinin Network in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes Using Single Molecule Localization Microscopy at JoVE.com

This study was supported by the EU structural Fund (ESF/14-BM-A55-0024/18). In addition, H.L. is supported by the FORUN Program of Rostock University Medical Centre (889001 and 889003) and the Josef and K&#228;the Klinz Foundation (T319/29737/2017). C.I.L. is supported by the Clinician Scientist Program of the Rostock University Medical Center. R.D is supported by the DFG (DA1296/6-1), the DAMP foundation, the German Heart Foundation (F/01/12) and the BMBF (VIP+ 00240).
We thank Madeleine Bartsch for her technical support in iPSC cell culture and cardiac differentiation.

All steps in this protocol involving neonatal and adult mice were performed according to the ethical guidelines for animal care of the Rostock University Medical Centre.
1. Cultivation and dissociation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
<ol>
	<li>Differentiate hiPSC-CMs for 25 days using a 2D monolayer method as described previously17.</li>
	<li>Prewarm dissociation medium to 37 &#176;C and support medium to room temperature.</li>
	<li>Wash cells twice with PBS.</li>
	<li...

<ol>
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The generation of functional iPSC-derived CM in vitro is important for regenerative therapies, disease modeling and the development of drug-screening platforms. However, insufficient maturity of these CM is a major obstacle in cardiovascular research20. In this regard, high resolution imaging techniques are needed that enable monitoring of the structural maturation state of iPSC-derived CM. At the same time, super resolution microscopy can be a valuable tool to precisely analyze the function of sp...

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as myocardial infarction or cardiomyopathy remain the major cause of death in the western world1. As the human heart possesses only poor regenerative capacity, there is a need for strategies to promote the recovery from CVDs. This includes cell replacement therapies to replenish lost cardiomyocytes (CM), as well as the development of new anti-arrhythmic drugs for efficient and safe pharmaceutical intervention. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) have been shown to be a promising cell source for the unlimited generation of human CM in vitro, suitable for regenerative therapies, disease modeling, and for the development of drug screening assays2,3,4.
Although many different cardiac differentiation protocols exist, iPSC-derived CM still lack certain phenotypical and functional aspects that impede the in vitro and in vivo application5,6. Beside electrophysiologic, metabolic, and molecular changes, the cardiac maturation process involves the structural organization of sarcomeres, which are the fundamental units required for force generation and cell contraction7. While adult CMs exhibit a well-organized contractile apparatus, iPSC-derived CMs commonly demonstrate disarranged sarcomere filaments, associated with a reduced contraction ability and altered contraction dynamics8,9. In contrast to mature CM that show uniaxial contraction pattern, the disoriented structures in immature CM results in a radial contraction of the whole cell or promote the appearance of contraction focal points9,10.
For improving cardiac maturation, multiple approaches have been applied, including 3D cell culture methods, electrical and mechanical stimulation, as well as the use of extracellular matrices mimicking in vivo conditions11,12,13. To evaluate the success and efficiency of these different culture conditions, techniques are needed to monitor and estimate the degree of the structural maturation of iPSC CM, e.g., by microscopic techniques. In contrast to conventional confocal imaging, the resolution in case of photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) is approximately 10x higher. This technique in turn allows for a more accurate analysis, detecting even subtle alterations of cellular structures14. Considering the high resolution of PALM-based imaging, the overall goal of this method was the microscopic evaluation of sarcomere maturity in iPSC-derived CMs by precise determination of z-Disc thickness and sarcomere length. In previous studies, these structural features have been shown to be appropriate parameters to assess cardiac maturity15. For example, diseased iPSC-CM lacking full length dystrophin exhibit reduced sarcomere length and z-band width when compared to wild type cells16. Likewise, the length of individual sarcomeres was measured to investigate the impact of topographic cues on cardiac development16. Hence, we applied this approach to evaluate the structural maturation of the sarcomere network in iPSC-CM by quantitatively measuring the sarcomere length and z-disc thickness.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>human iPSC cell line</td>
			<td>Takara</td>
			<td>Y00325</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#181;-Slide 8 Well Glass Bottom</td>
			<td>ibidi</td>
			<td>80827</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.5ml eppendorf tube</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>30121023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>A906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cardiomyocyte Dissociation Kit</td>
			<td>Stem Cell Technologies</td>
			<td>05025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Catalase</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C40-1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cyclooctatetraene</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>138924-1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cysteamine</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>30070-10g</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s phosphate-buffered saline without Ca2+ and Mg2+</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>14190169</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>F(ab&#39;)2-Goat anti-Mouse IgG Alexa Fluor 647</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>A-21237</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fiji image processing software (Image J)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Carl Roth</td>
			<td>X997.2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrochloric acid</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>H1758</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LSM 780 ELYRA PS.1 system</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>8187150100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pyranose oxidase</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P4234-250UN</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>sarcomeric &#945;-actinin antibody [EA-53]</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab9465</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>S7653</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>sterile water</td>
			<td>Carl Roth</td>
			<td>3255.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>X100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trizma base</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>T1503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#946;-Mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>63689</td>
			<td></td>
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analyzing the &alpha;-actinin network in human ipsc-derived cardiomyocytes using single molecule localization microscopy

The maturation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes is a critical issue for their application in regenerative therapy, drug testing and disease modeling. Despite the development of multiple differentiation protocols, the generation of iPSC cardiomyocytes resembling an adult-like phenotype remains challenging. One major aspect of cardiomyocytes maturation involves the formation of a well-organized sarcomere network to ensure high contraction capacity. Here, we present a super resolution-based approach for semi-quantitative analysis of the &#945;-actinin network in cardiomyocytes. Using photoactivated localization microscopy a comparison of sarcomere length and z-disc thickness of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac cells isolated from neonatal tissue was performed. At the same time, we demonstrate the importance of proper imaging conditions to obtain reliable data. Our results show that this method is suitable to quantitatively monitor the structural maturity of cardiac cells with high spatial resolution, enabling the detection of even subtle changes of sarcomere organization.

For estimating the degree of structural maturation of CM, neonatal, fully mature adult, and iPSC CM were initially labeled the CM with &#945;-actinin antibody to visualize the sarcomere network. Following PALM acquisition, images were reconstructed, and z-disc thickness was measured using plugin-based image processing software for the automatic detection of the width of individual filaments. Sarcomere length was calculated by measuring the distance between two adjacent intensity peaks, corresponding to neighboring filame...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analyzing the Î±-Actinin Network in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes Using Single Molecule Localization Microscopy at JoVE.com

Analyzing the &amp;#945;-Actinin Network in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes Using Single Molecule Localization Microscopy

The formation of a proper sarcomere network is important for the maturation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. We present a super resolution-based approach that allows for the quantitative evaluation of the structural maturation of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes, to improve culture conditions promoting cardiac development.

Analyzing the &alpha;-Actinin Network in Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes Using Single Molecule Localization Microscopy

The maturation of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes is a critical issue for their application in regenerative therapy, drug testing and disease modeling. ...

This method can be used for the quantitative evaluation of sarcomere maturation in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Using this super resolution-based approach, it is possible to detect even subtle alterations in sarcomere organization, which is not possible with conventional confocal imaging. At least three hours before use, switch on the microscope and bring the sample to room temperature.When the microscope is ready, add 300 microliters of PALM imaging buffer to a well of labeled cells and insert the chamber slide into the stage holder of the microscope. Select the 1.57 NA 100X oil objective and use the PALM mode in the imaging software and activate the TIRF settings. Set the number of frames to 5, 000 to 10, 000, the UV laser power to 0.1%and the 647 laser to 0.2%and the gain level to 50 to 100.When all of the acquisition parameters have been set, switch on the laser illumination and select a target cell. To acquire an image, increase the 647 laser power to 100%and reduce the gain to zero. Bleach the target cell for about five seconds, then increase the gain to 50 and initiate the PALM image acquisition.For reconstruction of the PALM data, at the end of the acquisition, open the data in ImageJ and open the Thunderstorm plugin. Select run analysis in the plugin and open the camera setup menu. Enter the pixel size and the electromagnetic gain.In the run analysis menu, set the B-spline order to three, the B-spline scale to two, the peak intensity threshold to stfwave. f1, the fitting radius to three, the initial sigma to 1.6, the magnification to five, the update frequency to 50, and the lateral shifts to two, and click OK.After reconstruction, select sigma in the plot histogram menu and use the rectangle tool to select a region of interest, excluding possible artifacts. Add the region of interest to the filter and add and uncertainty less than 25 to the region of interest values.In the remove duplicates tab, enter a distance threshold of 10 nanometers. In the merging tab, set the maximum distance to 20, the maximum frames per molecule to zero, and the maximum off frames to one. In the drift correction tab, select cross-correlation and set the number of bins and the magnification to five, then save the final PALM image and export the post-process data.To analyze the sarcomere length, import the reconstructed PALM image of interest into ImageJ and use the line tool to draw a line between the selected sarcomere structures perpendicular to the Z-disc to measure the shortest distance between the actin filaments. In the analysis menu, select plot profile and acquire the length between the two peaks. To analyze Z-disc thickness, convert the reconstructed PALM image into an eight-bit mode image and open the Ridge Detection plugin.Set the line width to 20, the high contrast to 230, the low contrast to 10, the sigma to 0.79, the lower threshold to 25.84, and the minimum line length to 20. Select estimate width, extend line, and display results, then click OK and use the mean line width from results table for further analysis. iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte and neonatal cells exhibit a similar alpha actinin pattern with irregular disarranged sarcomere structures.Quantitative assessment demonstrates that the length and thickness of the alpha actinin filaments are almost identical between the two groups of cells indicating a premature developmental state of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. In contrast, adult mature cardiomyocytes exhibit a regular sarcomere network with a slightly increased sarcomere length and reduced Z-disc thickness. A comparison of conventional confocal imaging and PALM reveals no significant difference in sarcomere length.However, a profound reduced Z-disc thickness is detected when iPSC cardiomyocytes are subjected to PALM imaging. A gain in resolution is observed when PALM is applied, which is supported by the corresponding intensity plots. Notably, sarcomere structures acquired using a low quality buffer appear to be thicker compared to structures captured under optimal imaging conditions.This lack of data accuracy is due to the reduced blinking properties of the fluorophore, resulting in fewer detected photons per localization event. Moreover, localization precision is decreased, lowering the overall resolution of the reconstructed PALM image. In addition, sample drift can affect the precise localization of the fluorescent molecules resulting in blurry images.To acquire proper PALM images, it is very important to allow thermal equilibration of the entire imaging system to avoid excessive sample drift during imaging. Following this procedure, other cellular structures such as mitochondria can be imaged by PALM to acquire additional parameters of cardiomyocyte maturation.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Single Molecule Methods for Monitoring Changes in Bilayer Elastic Properties

Membrane protein function is regulated by the cell membrane lipid composition.  This regulation is due to a combination of specific lipid-protein interactions and more general lipid bilayer-protein interactions. These interactions are particularly important in pharmacological research, as many current pharmaceuticals on the market can alter the lipid bilayer material properties, which can lead to altered membrane protein function.   The formation of gramicidin channels are dependent on conformational changes in gramicidin subunits which are in turn dependent on the properties of the lipid.  Hence the gramicidin channel  current is a reporter of altered properties of the bilayer due to certain compounds.  

Membrane protein function is regulated by the cell membrane lipid composition. This video-article details how to form a patch using bilayer patch electrodes, as well as how to use gramicidin channels as reporters of altered membrane properties.

Membrane protein function is regulated by the cell membrane lipid composition.  This regulation is due to a combination of specific lipid-protein ...

Visualizing Single Molecular Complexes In Vivo Using Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy

Full insight into the mechanisms of living cells can be achieved only by investigating the key processes that elicit and direct events at a cellular level. To date the shear complexity of biological systems has caused precise single-molecule experimentation to be far too demanding, instead focusing on studies of single systems using relatively crude bulk ensemble-average measurements. However, many important processes occur in the living cell at the level of just one or a few molecules; ensemble measurements generally mask the stochastic and heterogeneous nature of these events. Here, using advanced optical microscopy and analytical image analysis tools we demonstrate how to monitor proteins within a single living bacterial cell to a precision of single molecules and how we can observe dynamics within molecular complexes in functioning biological machines. The techniques are directly relevant physiologically. They are minimally-perturbative and non-invasive to the biological sample under study and are fully attuned for investigations in living material, features not readily available to other single-molecule approaches of biophysics. In addition, the biological specimens studied all produce fluorescently-tagged protein at levels which are almost identical to the unmodified cell strains ("genomic encoding"), as opposed to the more common but less ideal approach for generating significantly more protein than would occur naturally ('plasmid expression'). Thus, the actual biological samples which will be investigated are significantly closer to the natural organisms, and therefore the observations more relevant to real physiological processes.

Visualizing Single Molecular Complexes In Vivo Using Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy

Here we demonstrate the protocols for performing single-molecule fluorescence microscopy on living bacterial cells to enable functional molecular complexes to be detected, tracked and quantified.

Full insight into the mechanisms of living cells can be achieved only by investigating the key processes that elicit and direct events at a cellular ...

Visualizing Single-molecule DNA Replication with Fluorescence Microscopy

We describe a simple fluorescence microscopy-based real-time method for observing DNA replication at the single-molecule level. A circular, forked DNA template is attached to a functionalized glass coverslip and replicated extensively after introduction of replication proteins and nucleotides (Figure 1). The growing product double-strand DNA (dsDNA) is extended with laminar flow and visualized by using an intercalating dye. Measuring the position of the growing DNA end in real time allows precise determination of replication rate (Figure 2). Furthermore, the length of completed DNA products reports on the processivity of replication. This experiment can be performed very easily and rapidly and requires only a fluorescence microscope with a reasonably sensitive camera.


This protocol demonstrates a simple single-molecule fluorescence microscopy technique for visualizing DNA replication by individual replisomes in real time.

We describe a simple fluorescence microscopy-based real-time method for observing DNA replication at the single-molecule level. A circular, forked DNA ...

Visualization of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC) Network in Mice

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are mesenchymal derived "pacemaker cells" of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that generate spontaneous slow waves required for peristalsis and mediate neuronal input from the enteric nervous system1. Different subtypes of ICC form distinct networks in the muscularis of the GI tract 2,3. Loss or injury to these networks is associated with a number of motility disorders4. ICC cells express the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase on the plasma membrane and KIT immunostaining has been used for the past 15 years to label the ICC network5,6. Importantly, normal KIT activity is required for ICC development5,6. Neoplastic transformation of ICC cells results in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), that frequently harbor gain-of-function KIT mutations7,8. We recently showed that ETV1 is a lineage-specific survival factor expressed in the ICC/GIST lineage and is a master transcriptional regulator required for both normal ICC network formation and for of GIST tumorigenesis9. We further demonstrate that it cooperates with activating KIT mutations in tumorigenesis. Here, we describe methods for visualization of ICC networks in mice, largely based on previously published protocols10,11. More recently, the chloride channel anoctamin 1 (ANO1) has also been characterized as a specific membrane marker of ICC11,12. Because of their plasma membrane localization, immunofluorescence of both proteins can be used to visualize the ICC networks. Here, we describe visualization of the ICC networks by fixed-frozen cyrosections and whole mount preparations.

Visualization of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal ICC Network in Mice

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemaker cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They form complex networks between smooth muscle cells and post-ganglionic neuronal fibers to regulate GI contractility. Here, we present immunofluorescence methods cross-sectional and whole-mount visualization of murine ICC networks.

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are mesenchymal derived "pacemaker cells" of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that generate spontaneous slow waves ...

Efficient Derivation of Human Cardiac Precursors and Cardiomyocytes from Pluripotent Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Small Molecule Induction

To date, the lack of a suitable human cardiac cell source has been the major setback in regenerating the human myocardium, either by cell-based transplantation or by cardiac tissue engineering1-3. Cardiomyocytes become terminally-differentiated soon after birth and lose their ability to proliferate. There is no evidence that stem/progenitor cells derived from other sources, such as the bone marrow or the cord blood, are able to give rise to the contractile heart muscle cells following transplantation into the heart1-3. The need to regenerate or repair the damaged heart muscle has not been met by adult stem cell therapy, either endogenous or via cell delivery1-3. The genetically stable human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have unlimited expansion ability and unrestricted plasticity, proffering a pluripotent reservoir for in vitro derivation of large supplies of human somatic cells that are restricted to the lineage in need of repair and regeneration4,5. Due to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease worldwide and acute shortage of donor organs, there is intense interest in developing hESC-based therapies as an alternative approach. However, how to channel the wide differentiation potential of pluripotent hESCs efficiently and predictably to a desired phenotype has been a major challenge for both developmental study and clinical translation. Conventional approaches rely on multi-lineage inclination of pluripotent cells through spontaneous germ layer differentiation, resulting in inefficient and uncontrollable lineage-commitment that is often followed by phenotypic heterogeneity and instability, hence, a high risk of tumorigenicity6-8 (see a schematic in Fig. 1A). In addition, undefined foreign/animal biological supplements and/or feeders that have typically been used for the isolation, expansion, and differentiation of hESCs may make direct use of such cell-specialized grafts in patients problematic9-11. To overcome these obstacles, we have resolved the elements of a defined culture system necessary and sufficient for sustaining the epiblast pluripotence of hESCs, serving as a platform for de novo derivation of clinically-suitable hESCs and effectively directing such hESCs uniformly towards clinically-relevant lineages by small molecules12 (see a schematic in Fig. 1B). After screening a variety of small molecules and growth factors, we found that such defined conditions rendered nicotinamide (NAM) sufficient to induce the specification of cardiomesoderm direct from pluripotent hESCs that further progressed to cardioblasts that generated human beating cardiomyocytes with high efficiency (Fig. 2). We defined conditions for induction of cardioblasts direct from pluripotent hESCs without an intervening multi-lineage embryoid body stage, enabling well-controlled efficient derivation of a large supply of human cardiac cells across the spectrum of developmental stages for cell-based therapeutics.

We have established a protocol for induction of cardioblasts direct from pluripotent human embryonic stem cells maintained under defined conditions with small molecules, which enables derivation of a large supply of human cardiac progenitors and functional cardiomyocytes for cardiovascular repair.

To date, the lack of a suitable human cardiac cell source has been the major setback in regenerating the human myocardium, either by cell-based ...

Nano-fEM: Protein Localization Using Photo-activated Localization Microscopy and Electron Microscopy

Mapping the distribution of proteins is essential for understanding the function of proteins in a cell. Fluorescence microscopy is extensively used for protein localization, but subcellular context is often absent in fluorescence images. Immuno-electron microscopy, on the other hand, can localize proteins, but the technique is limited by a lack of compatible antibodies, poor preservation of morphology and because most antigens are not exposed to the specimen surface. Correlative approaches can acquire the fluorescence image from a whole cell first, either from immuno-fluorescence or genetically tagged proteins. The sample is then fixed and embedded for electron microscopy, and the images are correlated 1-3. However, the low-resolution fluorescence image and the lack of fiducial markers preclude the precise localization of proteins. 
Alternatively, fluorescence imaging can be done after preserving the specimen in plastic. In this approach, the block is sectioned, and fluorescence images and electron micrographs of the same section are correlated 4-7. However, the diffraction limit of light in the correlated image obscures the locations of individual molecules, and the fluorescence often extends beyond the boundary of the cell. 
Nano-resolution fluorescence electron microscopy (nano-fEM) is designed to localize proteins at nano-scale by imaging the same sections using photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM) and electron microscopy. PALM overcomes the diffraction limit by imaging individual fluorescent proteins and subsequently mapping the centroid of each fluorescent spot 8-10. 
We outline the nano-fEM technique in five steps. First, the sample is fixed and embedded using conditions that preserve the fluorescence of tagged proteins. Second, the resin blocks are sectioned into ultrathin segments (70-80 nm) that are mounted on a cover glass. Third, fluorescence is imaged in these sections using the Zeiss PALM microscope. Fourth, electron dense structures are imaged in these same sections using a scanning electron microscope. Fifth, the fluorescence and electron micrographs are aligned using gold particles as fiducial markers. In summary, the subcellular localization of fluorescently tagged proteins can be determined at nanometer resolution in approximately one week.

We describe a method to localize fluorescently tagged proteins in electron micrographs. Fluorescence is first localized using photo-activated localization microscopy on ultrathin sections. These images are then aligned to electron micrographs of the same section.

Mapping the distribution of proteins is essential for understanding the function of proteins in a cell. Fluorescence microscopy is extensively used for ...

Single-molecule Imaging of Gene Regulation In vivo Using Cotranslational Activation by Cleavage (CoTrAC)

We describe a fluorescence microscopy method, Co-Translational Activation by Cleavage (CoTrAC) to image the production of protein molecules in live cells with single-molecule precision without perturbing the protein's functionality. This method makes it possible to count the numbers of protein molecules produced in one cell during sequential, five-minute time windows. It requires a fluorescence microscope with laser excitation power density of ~0.5 to 1 kW/cm2, which is sufficiently sensitive to detect single fluorescent protein molecules in live cells. The fluorescent reporter used in this method consists of three parts: a membrane targeting sequence, a fast-maturing, yellow fluorescent protein and a protease recognition sequence. The reporter is translationally fused to the N-terminus of a protein of interest. Cells are grown on a temperature-controlled microscope stage. Every five minutes, fluorescent molecules within cells are imaged (and later counted by analyzing fluorescence images) and subsequently photobleached so that only newly translated proteins are counted in the next measurement.
Fluorescence images resulting from this method can be analyzed by detecting fluorescent spots in each image, assigning them to individual cells and then assigning cells to cell lineages. The number of proteins produced within a time window in a given cell is calculated by dividing the integrated fluorescence intensity of spots by the average intensity of single fluorescent molecules. We used this method to measure expression levels in the range of 0-45 molecules in single 5 min time windows. This method enabled us to measure noise in the expression of the &lambda; repressor CI, and has many other potential applications in systems biology.

Single-molecule Imaging of Gene Regulation In vivo Using Cotranslational Activation by Cleavage CoTrAC

We describe a fluorescence microscopy method, Co-Translational Activation by Cleavage (CoTrAC), to image the production of protein molecules in live cells with single-molecule precision without perturbing the protein's functionality. This method has been used to follow the stochastic expression dynamics of a transcription factor, the &lambda; repressor CI 1.

We describe a fluorescence microscopy method, Co-Translational Activation by Cleavage (CoTrAC) to image the production of protein molecules in live cells ...

Analyzing Craniofacial Morphogenesis in Zebrafish Using 4D Confocal Microscopy

Time-lapse imaging is a technique that allows for the direct observation of the process of morphogenesis, or the generation of shape. Due to their optical clarity and amenability to genetic manipulation, the zebrafish embryo has become a popular model organism with which to perform time-lapse analysis of morphogenesis in living embryos. Confocal imaging of a live zebrafish embryo requires that a tissue of interest is persistently labeled with a fluorescent marker, such as a transgene or injected dye. The process demands that the embryo is anesthetized and held in place in such a way that healthy development proceeds normally. Parameters for imaging must be set to account for three-dimensional growth and to balance the demands of resolving individual cells while getting quick snapshots of development. Our results demonstrate the ability to perform long-term in vivo imaging of fluorescence-labeled zebrafish embryos and to detect varied tissue behaviors in the cranial neural crest that cause craniofacial abnormalities. Developmental delays caused by anesthesia and mounting are minimal, and embryos are unharmed by the process. Time-lapse imaged embryos can be returned to liquid medium and subsequently imaged or fixed at later points in development. With an increasing abundance of transgenic zebrafish lines and well-characterized fate mapping and transplantation techniques, imaging any desired tissue is possible. As such, time-lapse in vivo imaging combines powerfully with zebrafish genetic methods, including analyses of mutant and microinjected embryos.

Time-lapse confocal imaging is a powerful technique useful for characterizing embryonic development. Here, we describe the methodology and characterize craniofacial morphogenesis in wild-type, as well as pdgfra, smad5, and smo mutant embryos.

Time-lapse imaging is a technique that allows for the direct observation of the process of morphogenesis, or the generation of shape. Due to their optical ...

Multi-color Localization Microscopy of Single Membrane Proteins in Organelles of Live Mammalian Cells

Knowledge about the localization of proteins in cellular subcompartments is crucial to understand their specific function. Here, we present a super-resolution technique that allows for the determination of the microcompartments that are accessible for proteins by generating localization and tracking maps of these proteins. Moreover, by multi-color localization microscopy, the localization and tracking profiles of proteins in different subcompartments are obtained simultaneously. The technique is specific for live cells and is based on the repetitive imaging of single mobile membrane proteins. Proteins of interest are genetically fused with specific, so-called self-labeling tags. These tags are enzymes that react with a substrate in a covalent manner. Conjugated to these substrates are fluorescent dyes. Reaction of the enzyme-tagged proteins with the fluorescence labeled substrates results in labeled proteins. Here, Tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) and Silicon Rhodamine (SiR) are used as fluorescent dyes attached to the substrates of the enzymes. By using substrate concentrations in the pM to nM range, sub-stoichiometric labeling is achieved that results in distinct signals. These signals are localized with ~15&#8211;27 nm precision. The technique allows for multi-color imaging of single molecules, whereby the number of colors is limited by the available membrane-permeable dyes and the repertoire of self-labeling enzymes. We show the feasibility of the technique by determining the localization of the quality control enzyme (Pten)-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) in different mitochondrial compartments during its processing in relation to other membrane proteins. The test for true physical interactions between differently labeled single proteins by single molecule FRET or co-tracking is restricted, though, because the low labeling degrees decrease the probability for having two adjacent proteins labeled at the same time. While the technique is strong for imaging proteins in membrane compartments, in most cases it is not appropriate to determine the localization of highly mobile soluble proteins.

Here, we present a protocol for multi-color localization of single membrane proteins in organelles of live cells. To attach fluorophores, self-labeling proteins are used. Proteins, located in different membranes compartments of the same organelle, can be localized with a precision of ~18 nm.

Knowledge about the localization of proteins in cellular subcompartments is crucial to understand their specific function. Here, we present a ...

Visualizing Lymph Node Structure and Cellular Localization using Ex-Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Lymph nodes (LNs) are organs spread within the body, where the innate immune responses can connect with the adaptive immunity. In fact, LNs are strategically interposed in the path of the lymphatic vessels, allowing intimate contact of tissue antigens with all resident immune cells in the LN. Thus, understanding the cellular composition, distribution, location and interaction using ex vivo whole LN imaging will add to the knowledge on how the body coordinates local and systemic immune responses. This protocol shows an ex vivo imaging strategy following an in vivo administration of fluorescent-labeled antibodies that allows a very reproducible and easy-to-perform methodology by using conventional confocal microscopes and stock reagents. Through subcutaneous injection of antibodies, it is possible to label different cell populations in draining LNs without affecting tissue structures that can be potentially damaged by a conventional immunofluorescence microscopy technique.

This protocol describes a technique to image different cell populations in draining lymph nodes without alterations in the organ structure.