Analyzing Microdomains in Biological Membranes Using Fluorescence Techniques

It is becoming increasingly clear that various lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane are not distributed homogeneously but are organized in compositionally and functionally variable microdomains. Fluorescence techniques have contributed significantly to our understanding of membrane structure and function. Here we review recent studies using fluorescence methods to detect membrane domains in intact cells. We also discuss the current limitations in the available techniques and the models used to interpret experimental data.     

10 nm Spatial Resolution Fluorescence Imaging of Single Molecules by Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Using a Tiny Aperture Probe

We demonstrate high-resolution fluorescence imaging of single molecules using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) with a tiny aperture probe for two different wavelengths in visible range in the illumination mode of operation. The spatial resolutions obtained at both excitation wavelengths were almost the same and the highest resolution realized was about 10 nm. To discuss the achievable resolution in aperture NSOM, we also employed a computer simulation by the finite-difference time-domain method for various aperture sizes and wavelengths. The resolution of 10 nm is predicted to be contributed by the single peak of localized near-field light around the rim of the aperture.     

High Probe Intensity Photobleaching Measurement of Lateral Diffusion in Cell Membranes

Lateral diffusion measurements, most commonly accomplished through Fluorescence Photobleaching Recovery (FPR or FRAP), provide important information on cell membrane molecules' size, environment and participation in intermolecular interactions. However, serious difficulties arise when these techniques are applied to weakly expressed proteins of either of two types: fusions of membrane receptors with visible fluorescent proteins or membrane molecules on autofluorescent cells. To achieve adequate sensitivity in these cases, techniques such as interference fringe FPR are needed. However, in such measurements, cytoplasmic species contribute to the fluorescence recovery signal and thus yield diffusion parameters not properly representing the small number of surface molecules. A new method helps eliminate these difficulties. High Probe Intensity (HPI)-FPR measurements retain the intrinsic confocality of spot measurements to eliminate interference from fluorescent cytoplasmic species. However, HPI-FPR methods lift the previous requirement that FPR procedures be performed at probe beam intensities low enough to not induce bleaching in samples during measurements. The high probe intensities now employed provide much larger fluorescence signals and thus more information on molecular diffusion from each measurement. We report successful measurement of membrane dynamics by this technique.     

Fluorescence lifetime imaging of oxygen in living cells

The usefulness of the fluorescent probe ruthenium tris(2,2′-dipyridyl) dichloride hydrate (RTDP) for the quantitative imaging of oxygen in single cells was investigated utilizing fluorescence lifetime imaging. The results indicate that the fluorescence behavior of RTDP in the presence of oxygen can be described by the Stem-Volmer equation. This shows that fluorescence quenching by oxygen is a dynamic quenching process. In addition, it was demonstrated that the fluorescence lifetime of RTDP is insensitive to pH, ion concentration, and cellular contents. This implies that a simple calibration procedure in buffers can be used to quantify oxygen concentrations within cells. First fluorescence imaging experiments on J774 macrophages show a nonuniform fluorescence intensity and a uniform fluorescence lifetime image. This indicates that the RTDP is heterogeneously partitioned throughout the cells, while the oxygen concentration is constant.     

荧光偏振法研究脉冲电场对酿酒酵母细胞膜流动性影响

以DPH(1,6-二苯基-1,3,5-己三烯)为荧光探剂,采用荧光偏振法探讨了脉冲电场(0～25 kV·cm-1,0～266 ms)对酿酒酵母细胞膜流动性影响。经5 kV·cm-1电场处理后,酿酒酵母细胞膜的流动性显著减小,并且随电场强度和处理时间的增加而减小;通过平板计数法和紫外分光光度计法分别检测了脉冲电场对酿酒酵母细胞存活对数及膜通透性影响。结果显示,5 kV·cm-1虽然只能使少量的酵母致死,却能使酵母细胞膜的通透性显著增加,膜流动性显著降低。并且细胞的存活率随电场强度增大而减小,细胞膜的通透性随电场强度增大而增大。这表明细胞膜的流动性降低与细胞膜的通透性升高成正相关,与细胞的存活率成负相关。由此推测脉冲电场在对酿酒酵母灭菌过程中,细胞膜是其作用的一个关键位点,膜流动性减小,细胞膜通透性增强,是细胞死亡的主要原因。     

Intensity Range Based Quantitative FRET Data Analysis to Localize Protein Molecules in Live Cell Nuclei

F?rster (fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET) is an ideal technique to estimate the distance between interacting protein molecules in live specimens using intensity-based microscopy. The spectral overlap of donor and acceptor- essential for FRET-also generates a contamination of the FRET signal. There are a number of algorithms available to remove this spectral bleedthrough (SBT) contamination and in this paper we compare two popular algorithms to estimate the SBT element and to calculate a more precise level of energy transfer efficiency, and with that a more accurate distance estimate.     

荧光共振能量转移-荧光寿命显微成像(FRET-FLIM)技术在生命科学研究中的应用进展

细胞是动植物结构和生命活动的基本单位.细胞过程的一个重要特点就是其生化组分在时空调控上的相互作用关系.然而,利用传统的生化方法(如酵母双杂交系统、pull-down系统等)很难在空间上评估活细胞内分子间的相互作用.光学技术的快速发展,为研究活细胞中生物分子的时空动态提供了新的遗传研究工具,其中荧光共振能量转移-荧光寿命...     

Electroporative Adjustment of pH in Living Yeast Cells: Ratiometric Fluorescence pH Imaging

A number of vital cell functions including modulation of signaling pathways and regulation of the cellular transport critically depends on the cytoplasmic pH. Many pathological cellular changes are related to the abnormal cytosolic pH as well. Reliable and well-calibrated methods for quantification of the cytosolic pH are therefore of high importance. The pH calibration is particularly difficult in walled cells since standard methods fail. In this report we evaluated the new electroporative calibration method of the cytosolic pH in yeasts by the fluorescence microscopy. The calibration was done on living cells using pyranine as a ratiometric pH-sensitive probe. The probe was electroporatively delivered to the cytosol. We have shown that unlike the measurements in suspension the fluorescence microscopy reveals cell subpopulations with different sensitivity to the pH calibration. While the majority of the cells were well calibrated, there was found subpopulation of uncalibrated cell as well as singular cells exhibiting anomalous pH calibration due to the staining of acidic organelles. Resolution of cell subpopulations helps to achieve better pH calibration compared to the calibration in cuvette on a cell suspension.     

荧光光谱成像在生物芯片蛋白量化分析中的应用研究

采用荧光光谱成像并结合椭圆偏振技术研究了３-氨基３-乙氧基硅烷(APTES)修饰及其与戊二醛(APTES-Glu)共同修饰的两种不同表面上固定的羊抗人抗体活性和数量及其荧光免疫结合。研究结果表明：应用荧光光谱成像在APTES-Glu表面上检测到的FITC标记人血清蛋白分子的数量为APTES表面结合的2.8倍,而应用椭圆偏振技术在前者表面上检测到的FITC标记人血清蛋白分子的数量为后者表面上的2.2倍。这个结果说明：在荧光免疫检测中,荧光光谱成像完全可用于分析不同表面固定蛋白的免疫活性和半定量的检测。     

Video fluorescence microscopic techniques to monitor local lipid and phospholipid molecular order and organization in cell membranes during hypoxic injury

Digitized video microscopy is rapidly finding uses in a number of fields of biological investigation because it allows quantitative assessment of physiological functions in intact cells under a variety of conditions. In this review paper, we focus on the rationale for the development and use of quantitative digitized video fluorescence microscopic techniques to monitor the molecular order and organization of lipids and phospholipids in the plasma membrane of single living cells. These include (1) fluorescence polarization imaging microscopy, used to measure plasma membrane lipid order, (2) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging microscopy, used to detect and monitor phospholipid domain formation, and (3) fluorescence quenching imaging microscopy, used to spatially map fluid and rigid lipid domains. We review both the theoretical as well as practical use of these different techniques and their limits and potential for future developments, and provide as an illustrative example their application in studies of plasma membrane lipid order and topography during hypoxic injury in rat hepatocytes. Each of these methods provides complementary information; in the case of hypoxic injury, they all indicated that hypoxic injury leads to a spatially and temporally heterogeneous alteration in lipid order, topography, and fluidity of the plasma membrane. Hypoxic injury induces the formation of both fluid and rigid lipid domains; the formation of these domains is responsible for loss of the plasma membrane permeability barrier and the onset of irreversible injury (cell death). By defining the mechanisms which lead to alterations in lipid and phospholipid order and organization in the plasma membrane of hypoxic cells, potential sites of intervention to delay, prevent, or rescue cells from hypoxic injury have been identified. Finally, we briefly discuss fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and its potential application for studies monitoring local lipid and phospholipid molecular order and organization in cell membranes.     

How to Improve Quality Assurance in Fluorometry: Fluorescence-Inherent Sources of Error and Suited Fluorescence Standards

The scope of this paper is to illustrate the need for an improved quality assurance in fluorometry. For this purpose, instrumental sources of error and their influences on the reliability and comparability of fluorescence data are highlighted for frequently used photoluminescence techniques ranging from conventional macro- and microfluorometry over fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry to microarray technology as well as in vivo fluorescence imaging. Particularly, the need for and requirements on fluorescence standards for the characterization and performance validation of fluorescence instruments, to enhance the comparability of fluorescence data, and to enable quantitative fluorescence analysis are discussed. Special emphasis is dedicated to spectral fluorescence standards and fluorescence intensity standards.