Name: confocal and super-resolution imaging of polarized intracellular trafficking and secretion of basement membrane proteins during drosophila oogenesis
Uploaded: 2022-05-19T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Confocal and Super-Resolution Imaging of Polarized Intracellular Trafficking and Secretion of Basement Membrane Proteins During Drosophila Oogenesis at JoVE.c

The authors are grateful to Julie Merkle for her helpful comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by NIH grant R15GM137236 to O.D. The confocal and super-resolution images were acquired using a Zeiss LSM 900 with Airyscan 2, purchased with NSF MRI grant 2018748.

1. Fly preparation for ovary dissections
<ol>
	<li>Put 10-15 Drosophila melanogaster&#160;female flies (1-2 days old) of the desired genotype in a narrow vial containing ~8 mL of Drosophila fly medium sprinkled with a small amount of granulated baker&#39;s yeast 2-3 days prior to dissection at 25 &#176;C. Adding a few males to the vial can boost egg chamber yield. However, ensure that the total number of flies does not exceed 20 as this can negatively affect ovary development. 
	...

The BM is critical for embryonic and organ morphogenesis, and adult physiological functions. Moreover, the BM acts as a signaling platform for the establishment and maintenance of epithelial polarity and provides tissues with support2. Yet, the mechanisms that regulate the proper placement of BM proteins are poorly understood. A better understanding of the biological pathways dedicated to the intracellular trafficking and polarized secretion of BM proteins requires a careful analysis of the compon...

The basement membrane (BM) is a thin sheet of layered cell-adherent extracellular matrix (ECM) critical for epithelial structure and morphogenesis1. It comprises ~50 proteins and is found ubiquitously underlying the epithelial and endothelial cells, and ensheathing skeletal, smooth, and heart muscle cells and adipocytes1,2,3. The three main components of the BM at the basal side of the epithelial cells are Collagen IV, Perlecan, and Laminins. The BM underlies the epithelial cells and is responsible for many functions, including tissue separation and barrier, growth and support, and cell polarization2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. Its role as a signaling platform regulates the morphology and differentiation of epithelial cells and tissues during development3,13,14. Moreover, the mis-regulation of the BM and/or a breach in its integrity are the primary causes of many pathological conditions, including tumor metastasis2,15,16. Despite the essential functions performed by the BM during tissue and organ morphogenesis, the components of the biological pathway(s) dedicated to the polarized intracellular trafficking and secretion of BM proteins are vaguely known.
To study the intracellular trafficking of BM-containing vesicles and the secretion of BM proteins by epithelial cells, the follicular epithelium (FE) of the Drosophila ovary is a powerful model system (Figure 1). A Drosophila ovary comprises 16-20 long, tube-like structures, called ovarioles (Figure 1A,B)17,18,19. Each ovariole can be thought of as an egg assembly line, with the age progression of egg chambers (which each gives rise to an egg) that begins at the anterior end and moves posteriorly, until the mature egg exits through the oviduct. Each egg chamber is encapsulated by the FE, a monolayer of somatic follicle cells (FCs), that surrounds the central germline cells (GCs). The FE is highly polarized with a distinct apical-basal polarity where the apical domain faces the germline, and the BM proteins are secreted basally18,19. The FCs actively secrete all of the major components of the BM, including Collagen IV, Perlecan, and Laminins20,21. In epithelial cells such as FCs, the BM components are produced and require a specialized polarized secretion pathway for their deposition extracellularly. For example, in the case of the most abundant component of the BM, Collagen IV (Coll IV), the details surrounding its polarized intracellular trafficking and secretion are vague despite its production and deposition being the focus of many studies. Coll IV is translated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which is also where each fibril - composed of three polypeptides (two &#945;1 chains and one &#945;2 chain) - is assembled into a triple helix22. Proper Coll IV folding and function require ER chaperones and enzymes, including lysyl and prolyl-hydroxylases such as Plod and PH4&#945;EFB20,22,23,24,25,26. These posttranslational enzymes regulate the ER sorting of Coll IV, as the loss of each causes Coll IV to be trapped in the basal ER20,23,24,25,26. Then, newly synthesized Coll IV exits the ER for the Golgi in COPII-coated vesicles. The cargo receptor Tango1 aids in packaging collagens into sizable Golgi-bound vesicles that can accommodate large multimeric proteins20,27. Once Coll IV is packaged into intracellular exocytic vesicles, it is specifically secreted basally from epithelial cells. To direct BM deposition to the basal side, epithelial cells require another set of factors specifically dedicated to polarized BM secretion. Using the FE of the Drosophila ovary, a few components of this novel cellular process have been characterized, including the nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) Crag and Stratum, the GTPases Rab8 and Rab10, as well as the levels of the phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2, and Kinesin 1 and 3 motor proteins20,28,29,30,31. These components are critical in ensuring the polarized distribution of BM proteins.
To monitor the intracellular localization of BM proteins in the FE, endogenously tagged basement membrane proteins (protein traps), such as Viking-GFP (Vkg-GFP or &#945;2 Coll IV-GFP) and Perlecan-GFP (Pcan-GFP) can be used32,33. These protein trap lines have been shown to accurately reflect the endogenous distribution of BM proteins and allow for more sensitive detection of vesicular trafficking28,30. The components involved in the polarized deposition of BM in the FE were first characterized using protein trap lines for Vkg-GFP and Pcan-GFP20,28,29,30. Protein traps can be used in different genetic backgrounds, including mutants and Gal4 lines34. Moreover, protein traps can be used in combination with fluorescent dyes and/or fluorescence immunostaining, allowing for precise characterization of the localization of BM proteins when comparing wild-type and mutant conditions35.
To accurately and efficiently assess the distribution and localization of BM protein-containing vesicles, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and super-resolution imaging techniques present a significant advantage to other imaging approaches. These approaches couple high-resolution imaging with relative ease of use. CLSM is a microscopy technique that allows for an improved optical resolution by scanning the specimen with a laser in a raster scan manner using galvanometers. The pinhole aperture is a core component of a confocal microscope. By blocking the out-of-focus signals coming from above or below the focal plane, the pinhole aperture results in a highly superior resolution in the z-axis36. This also makes it possible to obtain a series of images in the z-plane, called a z-stack, corresponding to a series of optical sections. z-stacks subsequently create a 3D image of the specimen, via 3D reconstruction, with the aid of imaging software. Conventional epifluorescence (widefield) microscopes, unlike confocal microscopes, allow out-of-focus light to contribute to image quality, decreasing image resolution and contrast36,37. This makes epifluorescence microscopy a less attractive candidate when studying protein localization or colocalization.
Although CLSM is a suitable approach for various applications, including imaging and characterization of the intracellular trafficking of BM proteins, it still presents an issue when imaging samples below Abbe&#39;s diffraction limit of light (200-250 nm). When imaging such samples, confocal microscopy, especially when using an oil objective, can result in high resolution. However, super-resolution techniques surpass the limit of confocal microscopy. There are various approaches to achieve super-resolution microscopy, each with specific resolution limits, and each appropriate for different analyses. These approaches include photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) or stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED), structured illumination microscopy (SIM), and Airyscan (super-resolution) microscopy38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46. Although Airyscan has a coarser resolution than PALM/STORM, STED, and SIM, it can still achieve a resolution of up to ~120 nm (about twice the resolution of CLSM). Furthermore, this super-resolution microscopy approach has been shown to have an advantage over SIM and other super-resolution techniques when imaging thick samples and samples with a low signal-to-noise ratio47,48.
Airyscan is a relatively new super-resolution confocal microscopy technology46. Unlike traditional CLSMs, which use the pinhole and single point detectors to reject out-of-focus light, this super-resolution approach uses a 32-channel gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) photomultiplier tube area detector that collects all of the light at every scan position45. Each of the 32 detectors work as a small pinhole, reducing the pinhole size from the traditional 1.0 Airy Unit (A.U.) to an enhanced 0.2 A.U., enabling an even higher resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, while maintaining the efficiency of a 1.25 A.U. diameter45. Furthermore, the linear deconvolution used by Airyscan results in up to a 2x increase in resolution45. Taking this into consideration, CLSM, and specifically super-resolution microscopy, are&#160;well-suited to study BM proteins and proteins that regulate the basal deposition of BM proteins, as they can produce very high-resolution images for localization and colocalization studies, thereby providing new insights in the spatial, temporal, and molecular events that control these processes.
An alternative approach to confocal microscopy that can be used to perform localization experiments is image deconvolution. Since widefield microscopy allows out-of-focus light to reach the detectors, mathematical and computational deconvolution algorithms can be applied to remove or reassign out-of-focus light from images obtained by widefield microscopy, thereby improving the resolution and contrast of the image49. Deconvolution algorithms can also be applied to confocal images to further increase resolution and contrast, producing final images almost comparable to that of super-resolution microscopy50. Airyscan makes use of Weiner filter-based deconvolution along with Sheppard&#39;s pixel reassignment, resulting in a highly improved spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. Compared to confocal microscopy, an increase of 2x in resolution in all three spatial dimensions (120 nm in x and y, and 350 nm in z) is observed when using this super-resolution microscopy technique45,51.
This manuscript provides detailed and optimized protocols to stain, acquire, and visualize the intracellular trafficking and deposition of BM proteins using the FE of the Drosophila ovary as a model system coupled with confocal and super-resolution microscopy. Drosophila lines expressing endogenously tagged basement membrane proteins, e.g., Vkg-GFP and Pcan-GFP, are efficient and accurate tools to visualize BM protein trafficking and secretion. In addition, they can be easily used in different genetic backgrounds, including mutant and Gal4/UAS lines34. Although endogenously tagged basement membrane proteins are recommended, the use of antibodies against specific BM proteins is also compatible with the described protocols. These protocols are particularly useful for scientists who are interested in studying intracellular trafficking and the secretion of BM proteins in intact epithelial tissue using confocal and super-resolution imaging. Moreover, the ability to combine epithelial tissue analysis with the expansive tools of Drosophila genetics makes this approach especially powerful. Finally, these protocols could be easily adapted to study vesicular trafficking and sorting of other proteins of interest.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 546 phalloidin</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A22283</td>
			<td>F-Actin Stain (1/500 of 66&#181;M)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 647 phalloidin</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A22287</td>
			<td>F-Actin Stain (1/100 of 66&#181;M))</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-GM130 Antibody</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab30637</td>
			<td>For Golgi Stain (colocalization); use as concentration of 7&#181;g/uL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Aqua-Polymount</td>
			<td>Polysciences, Inc.</td>
			<td>1860620</td>
			<td>Mounting Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bakers Yeast (Active Dry Yeast)</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>62-103</td>
			<td>To fatten the overies for dissection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine Serum Albumin (30% solution)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A7284</td>
			<td>For blocking solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Depression wells</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>7156101</td>
			<td>For dissection (glass concavity slide can be used instead)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting needle</td>
			<td>Fisher scientifc</td>
			<td>13-820-024</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Drosophila Incubator</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific/Invictus</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fly Stock: Perlecan-GFP Drosophila line (ZCL1700)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Morin et al., 2001</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fly Stock: UAS-Crag RNAi line (TRIP line HMS00241)</td>
			<td>Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center</td>
			<td>33594</td>
			<td>RNAi against Crag</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fly Stock: Viking-GFP Drosophila line (CC00791)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Buszczak et al., 2007</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fly Stock: Vkg-GFP, tj-Gal4</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Devergne et al., 2017. Drive the expression of Crag RNAi in the FE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Forceps (Dumont 5)</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11251-30</td>
			<td>For dissection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass Concavity Slide</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>7187804</td>
			<td>For dissection (depression wells can be used instead)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti-Rabbit IgG, Alexa Fluor 568</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A11036</td>
			<td>Secondary antibody (GM130 antibody) (5 &#181;g/mL)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hoechst (Hoechst 33342)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>H3570</td>
			<td>DNA Stain (1 ug/mL)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Kimwipes</td>
			<td>Kimtech</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific: 06-666</td>
			<td>Delicate task wipers</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Leica Fluorescent Stereo Microscope&#160; M165 FC</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>For ovary imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope Slides</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>294875X25</td>
			<td>Microscope Slides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nutating platform rocker</td>
			<td>Corning Life Sciences</td>
			<td>6720</td>
			<td>For ovary fixation and staining</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nutri-Fly BF</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>66-121</td>
			<td>Fly Food</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde 20% Solution</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific: 15713</td>
			<td>For PFA 4%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate Buffered Saline Tablets</td>
			<td>Fisher scientific</td>
			<td>BP2944100</td>
			<td>For PBS solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ProLong Glass Antifade Mountant</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>P36980</td>
			<td>Mounting Medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Square Cover Glass</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>285022</td>
			<td>Cover glass for microscope slides</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton x-100</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>9036-19-5</td>
			<td>For PBST</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zeiss LSM 900 with Airyscan 2</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Confocal and super-resolution Microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zeiss Stemi 305 Stereo Microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissecting microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zeiss Zen Software version 3.3 (Blue Edition)</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Image acquisition and processing</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

confocal and super-resolution imaging of polarized intracellular trafficking and secretion of basement membrane proteins during drosophila oogenesis

The basement membrane (BM) - a specialized sheet of extracellular matrix present at the basal side of epithelial cells - is critical for the establishment and maintenance of epithelial tissue morphology and organ morphogenesis. Moreover, the BM is essential for tissue modeling, serving as a signaling platform, and providing external forces to shape tissues and organs. Despite the many important roles that the BM plays during normal development and pathological conditions, the biological pathways controlling the intracellular trafficking of BM-containing vesicles and how basal secretion leads to the polarized deposition of BM proteins are poorly understood. The follicular epithelium of the Drosophila ovary is an excellent model system to study the basal deposition of BM membrane proteins, as it produces and secretes all major components of the BM. Confocal and super-resolution imaging combined with image processing in fixed tissues allows for the identification and characterization of cellular factors specifically involved in the intracellular trafficking and deposition of BM proteins. This article presents a detailed protocol for staining and imaging BM-containing vesicles and deposited BM using endogenously tagged proteins in the follicular epithelium of the Drosophila ovary. This protocol can be applied to address both qualitative and quantitative questions and it was developed to accommodate high-throughput screening, allowing for the rapid and efficient identification of factors involved in the polarized intracellular trafficking and secretion of vesicles during epithelial tissue development.

The methods described herein can be used to efficiently and accurately image and characterize the intracellular trafficking and secretion of BM proteins in polarized epithelial cells, such as the FE of the Drosophila ovary. Next, we provide anticipated results obtained using the described methods, as well as helpful advice and potential pitfalls. To do so, Vkg-GFP, an endogenously tagged Vkg (Drosophila Col IV) is used. However, the same results can be achieved with other endogenously tagged BM proteins...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Confocal and Super-Resolution Imaging of Polarized Intracellular Trafficking and Secretion of Basement Membrane Proteins During Drosophila Oogenesis at JoVE.c

Confocal and Super-Resolution Imaging of Polarized Intracellular Trafficking and Secretion of Basement Membrane Proteins During Drosophila Oogenesis

The basement membrane is essential for tissue and organ morphogenesis during development. To better understand the mechanisms leading to proper placement of this structure, the protocol presented describes methods to visualize and characterize the intracellular trafficking and secretion of basement membrane proteins in epithelial cells using confocal and super-resolution microscopy.

Confocal and Super-Resolution Imaging of Polarized Intracellular Trafficking and Secretion of Basement Membrane Proteins During Drosophila Oogenesis

The basement membrane (BM) - a specialized sheet of extracellular matrix present at the basal side of epithelial cells - is critical for the establishment ...

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