Hybrid Rayleigh,Raman and two‐photon excited fluorescence spectral confocal microscopy of living cells

A hybrid fluorescence–Raman confocal microscopy platform is presented, which integrates low‐wavenumber‐resolution Raman imaging, Rayleigh scatter imaging and two‐photon fluorescence (TPE) spectral imaging, fast ‘amplitude‐only’ TPE‐fluorescence imaging and high‐spectral‐resolution Raman imaging. This multi‐dimensional fluorescence–Raman microscopy platform enables rapid imaging along the fluorescence emission and/or Rayleigh scatter dimensions. It is shown that optical contrast in these images can be used to select an area of interest prior to subsequent investigation with high spatially and spectrally resolved Raman imaging. This new microscopy platform combines the strengths of Raman ‘chemical’ imaging with light scattering microscopy and fluorescence microscopy and provides new modes of correlative light microscopy. Simultaneous acquisition of TPE hyperspectral fluorescence imaging and Raman imaging illustrates spatial relationships of fluorophores, water, lipid and protein in cells. The fluorescence–Raman microscope is demonstrated in an application to living human bone marrow stromal stem cells. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasensitive Microscopy of the Plasma Membrane of Living Cells

The view of the plasma membrane of biological cells was dramatically changed due to the discovery of lipid domains. Initially found as structurally distinct areas characterized by a specific protein content, the concept of lipid domains was rapidly taken over as a new scheme for explaining membrane targeted cellular processes. In this review, we discuss the capabilities of imaging methodologies to study lipid domains and their contributions to the current model of the cellular plasma membrane.     

Domain formation in the plasma membrane: roles of nonequilibrium lipid transport and membrane proteins

Compositional lipid domains ("lipid rafts") in plasma membranes are believed to be important components of many cellular processes. The mechanisms by which cells regulate the sizes and lifetimes of these spatially extended domains are poorly understood at the moment. Here we show that the competition between phase separation in an immiscible lipid system and active cellular lipid transport processes naturally leads to the formation of such domains. Furthermore, we demonstrate that local interactions with immobile membrane proteins can spatially localize the rafts and lead to further clustering.     

基于电动可调焦透镜的大范围快速光片显微成像

搭建了一种基于电动可调焦透镜(electrically tunable lens)的大范围快速光片荧光显微成像系统.通过引入电动可调焦透镜与一维振镜以实现成像物平面和光片位置的快速移动,再结合高速s CMOS完成快速光片荧光显微成像.另外实验中通过改善光路与提升动态成像质量,实现了大范围扫描并减少了伪像.最终对成像性能进行测试,本系统的纵向分辨率和横向分辨率分别达到约5.5μm和约0.7μm,单幅图像稳定成像的速度约为275 frames/s,成像深度可超过138μm,能满足对具有一定尺寸的生物样本进行实时清晰成像的需求.     

Fluorescence lifetime imaging in biosciences: technologies and applications

The biosciences require the development of methods that allow a non-invasive and rapid investigation of biological systems. In this aspect, high-end imaging techniques allow intravital microscopy in real-time, providing information on a molecular basis. Far-field fluorescence imaging techniques are some of the most adequate methods for such investigations. However, there are great differences between the common fluorescence imaging techniques, i.e., wide-field, confocal one-photon and two-photon microscopy, as far as their applicability in diverse bioscientific research areas is concerned. In the first part of this work, we briefly compare these techniques. Standard methods used in the biosciences, i.e., steady-state techniques based on the analysis of the total fluorescence signal originating from the sample, can successfully be employed in the study of cell, tissue and organ morphology as well as in monitoring the macroscopic tissue function. However, they are mostly inadequate for the quantitative investigation of the cellular function at the molecular level. The intrinsic disadvantages of steady-state techniques are countered by using time-resolved techniques. Among these fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is currently the most common. Different FLIM principles as well as applications of particular relevance for the biosciences, especially for fast intravital studies are discussed in this work.      

Fluorescence Methods to Probe Nanometer-Scale Organization of Molecules in Living Cell Membranes

The ability to study the structure and function of cell membranes and membrane components is fundamental to understanding cellular processes. This requires the use of methods which are capable of resolving structures at nanometer-scale resolution in living cells. In this review we survey fluorescence imaging methodologies capable of nanometer-scale resolution. We then critically examine specific biological applications of these methods, in the context of understanding membrane protein conformation and dynamics, intracellular signaling, organization of lipid rafts, and cell surface topology.     

超分辨率成像荧光探针材料应用进展

为了进一步认知复杂环境中的细胞生物学过程,研究人员发展了各种各样的生物成像技术。在这些技术中,生物荧光成像因简单的成像条件以及对生物样品的相容性而得到了广泛的发展。然而,传统的荧光成像技术受到了光学衍射极限的限制,无法分辨低于200 nm的空间结构,阻碍了对亚细胞结构的生物学过程研究。超分辨荧光显微镜技术突破了传统光学衍射对成像分辨率的限制,能够获取纳米尺度的细胞动态过程。除了对传统的宽场荧光显微镜框架的改进及升级改造之外,目前典型的超分辨成像显微镜技术通常依赖于荧光探针材料的光物理性质。常用的荧光探针材料包括荧光蛋白、有机荧光分子和纳米荧光材料等。本文介绍了几种主流的超分辨荧光显微成像技术并总结了已经成功应用到超分辨生物荧光成像中的荧光探针材料的应用进展。     

长时程双光子成像技术

双光子成像(Two-Photon Imaging)技术以其优越特性被广泛用于活细胞动态三维成像,但光功率极高的短脉冲光对焦平面荧光分子严重的光漂白极大地影响了双光子长时间成像的图像质量,针对双光子荧光漂白问题,本文提出一种优化光照的双光子(Optimized Lighting-Two Photon,OL-TP)成像技术。通过预扫描获取双光子图像分析高低阈值,以预设的高低阈值为标准优化一幅图像中不同区域的光照时长,利用扫描过程中记录的荧光信息和光照时间信息可以重建OL-TP图像,既保证信噪比又降低荧光漂白。重建的OL-TP图像与传统双光子图像基本一致,信噪比略有降低,但图像并未失真。对110 nm的荧光小球样本分别连续取30幅普通双光子和优化光照的双光子图像,到第30幅图时,重建后的优化光照双光子图像比普通双光子图像荧光漂白降低了28.86%。OL-TP通过优化光照时间大幅降低双光子成像的荧光漂白,使双光子荧光显微镜能够更好地对生物样本进行长时间观测。     

Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) Analysis of Human Red Blood Cell System

Recent studies have revealed the importance of the lipid micro domain for signal transduction in cell membrane. To analyze the biophysical properties of the lipid micro domain at the single molecule level, we measured the diffusion of fluorescence probe in human red blood cell (RBC) membrane using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). The value of diffusion constant of octadecyl rhodamine B chloride (R18), D = 4.7 × 10⁻⁹cm²/s, is close to that of phospholipid molecules in membrane. This indicates that the probed RBC with R18 could be a convenient model for analyzing membrane property under natural conditions. Using this model, we investigated how amyloid beta peptide (A-beta) interacts with plasma membrane. This paper demonstrates that A-beta was inserted into the phospholipid bilayer of the RBC membrane and predicts the existence of the micro domain, lipid raft, on this membrane by the heterologous insertion of A-beta.     

Direct Observation of Lipid Domains in Free-Standing Bilayers Using Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence Microscopy

The direct observation of temperature-dependent lipid phase equilibria, using two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy on giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of different lipid mixtures, provides novel information about the physical characteristics of lipid domain coexistence. Physical characteristics such as the shape, size, and time evolution of different lipid domains are not directly accessible from the traditional experimental approaches that employ either small and large unilamellar vesicles or multilamellar vesicles. In this review article, we address the most relevant findings reported from our laboratory regarding the direct observation of lipid domain coexistence at the level of single vesicles in artificial and natural lipid mixtures. In addition, key points concerning our experimental approach will be discussed. The unique advantages of the fluorescent probe 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (LAURDAN) under two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy is particularly addressed, especially, the possibility of obtaining information on the phase state of different lipid domains directly from the fluorescent images.     

How Phospholipid-Cholesterol Interactions Modulate Lipid Lateral Diffusion, as Revealed by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

Cholesterol is a key player in regulating physico-chemical properties of cellular membranes and, thereby, ensuring cell viability. In particular, lipid-cholesterol interactions may provide important information on the spatio-temporal organization of membrane components. Here, we apply confocal imaging and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) to Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) composed of binary mixtures of lipids and cholesterol.The effect of cholesterol on lipid dynamics and molecular packing order of unsaturated, monounsaturated, fully saturated (with both low and high phase transition temperatures, T_m) glycero-phospholipids and sphingomyelin has been investigated. We show that, for unsaturated glycerophospholipids, the decrease of the lipid diffusion coefficient as a result of the interaction with cholesterol does not depend on the fatty acid chain length. However, the values of the diffusion coefficient change as a function of chain length. The monounsaturated phospholipid palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) exhibits a dynamic behavior very similar to the unsaturated dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC). By contrast, for saturated (low T_m) glycero-phospholipids, cholesterol causes a decrease of lipid mobility in a chain length-dependent manner.FCS can be employed as a valuable tool to study lipid-sterol interactions and their effect on lipid dynamics, molecular packing and degree of conformational order.     

眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞脂褐素及氧化黑色素自体荧光寿命成像研究

利用一种基于时间相关单光子计数器的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像技术,对猪眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞内的脂褐素和氧化黑色素颗粒的空间分布及其荧光寿命特性进行了研究,尤其对于这些色素颗粒在光致氧化环境中的荧光寿命差异进行了分析.结果表明,利用荧光寿命测量能有效区分视网膜色素上皮层细胞中的多组分荧光团,利用荧光寿命的衰减参数可分辨正常及异常的荧光现象.该方法有望发展成为一种用于眼科临床诊断及病理学研究的高灵敏度的工具,对眼底细胞随年龄增长的衰老机理的研究具有重要的意义. 关键词： 双光子激发荧光 荧光寿命成像 视网膜色素上皮层     

眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞脂褐素及氧化黑色素自体荧光寿命成像研究

利用一种基于时间相关单光子计数器的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像技术，对猪眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞内的脂褐素和氧化黑色素颗粒的空间分布及其荧光寿命特性进行了研究，尤其对于这些色素颗粒在光致氧化环境中的荧光寿命差异进行了分析.结果表明，利用荧光寿命测量能有效区分视网膜色素上皮层细胞中的多组分荧光团，利用荧光寿命的衰减参数可分辨正常及异常的荧光现象.该方法有望发展成为一种用于眼科临床诊断及病理学研究的高灵敏度的工具，对眼底细胞随年龄增长的衰老机理的研究具有重要的意义.     

Label-free imaging of arterial cells and extracellular matrix using a multimodal CARS microscope

A multimodal nonlinear optical imaging system that integrates coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), sum-frequency generation (SFG), and two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) on the same platform was developed and applied to visualize single cells and extracellular matrix in fresh carotid arteries. CARS signals arising from CH₂-rich membranes allowed visualization of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of the arterial wall. Additionally, CARS microscopy allowed vibrational imaging of elastin and collagen fibrils which are also rich in CH₂ bonds. The extracellular matrix organization was further confirmed by TPEF signals arising from elastin’s autofluorescence and SFG signals arising from collagen fibrils’ non-centrosymmetric structure. Label-free imaging of significant components of arterial tissues suggests the potential application of multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy to monitor onset and progression of arterial diseases.     

超分辨成像及超分辨关联显微技术研究进展

光学成像系统中有限孔径对光波的衍射,使得光学显微成像技术的分辨率受到"衍射极限"限制而无法进一步提高.自1873年E.K.Abbe提出该问题以来,衍射极限就一直是学术界研究的热点.近年来,随着高强度激光、高灵敏探测器等光电器件研制技术以及新型荧光探针开发等相关领域的快速发展,光学显微技术衍射极限问题的研究迎来了新的契机,超分辨显微成像技术(super-resolution microscopy.SRM)在近十年内取得了令人瞩目的巨大成就.本文从空域和频域角度回顾了衍射极限分辨率的基本原理,并据此对目前常见的各种SRM技术"绕过"衍射极限提高分辨率的机理给予了详解,同时介绍了各类技术的发展动态和研究方向;作为SRM的一个新的重要的发展趋势,本文详细介绍了超分辨关联显微技术的最新研究进展,包括SRM与活细胞实时荧光显微、荧光寿命显微、光谱测量和成像、电子显微、原子力显微、质谱技术等的关联,着重讨论了各类超分辨关联显微技术的作用和意义;最后,对SRM技术和超分辨关联显微技术的未来发展方向进行了展望.     

Nonlinear optical microscopy for drug delivery monitoring and cancer tissue imaging

A multimodal nonlinear optical microscope that combines coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), two‐photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF), second‐harmonic generation (SHG) and sum‐frequency generation (SFG) was developed and applied to image breast cancer tissue and MCF‐7 cells as well as monitoring anticancer drug delivery in live cells. TPEF imaging showed that drugs are preferentially localized in the cytoplasm and the nuclear envelope in resistant cells. Moreover, the extracellular matrix was observed by TPEF signals arising from elastin's autofluorescence and SHG signals from collagen fibrils in breast tissue sections. Additionally, CARS signals arising from proteins and (PO₂)⁻ allowed identification of tumors. Label‐free imaging with chemical contrast of significant components of cancer cells and tissue suggests the potential of multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy for early detection and diagnosis of cancer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence Studies of the Acetylcholine Receptor: Structure and Dynamics in Membranes and Cells

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is the archetype member of the superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast intercellular communication in response to endogenous neurotransmitters. Here I review a series of biophysical studies on the AChR protein, with particular focus on the interactions of the macromolecule with its lipid microenvironment. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and phosphorescence anisotropy studies of the membrane-embedded AChR have contributed to our understanding of the translational and rotational dynamics of this protein in synthetic lipid bilayers and in the native membrane. Electron spin resonance studies led to the discovery of a lipid fraction in direct contact with the AChR with rotational dynamics 50-fold slower than that of the bulk lipids. This lipid belt region around the AChR molecule has since been intensively studied with the aim to define its possible role in the modulation of receptor function. The polarity and molecular dynamics of solvent dipoles—mainly water—in the vicinity of the lipids in the AChR membrane have been studied exploiting the amphiphilic fluorescent probe Laurdan's exquisite sensitivity to the phase state of the membrane, and Förster-type resonance energy transfer (FRET) was introduced to characterize the receptor-associated lipid microenvironment. FRET was used to discriminate between the bulk lipid and the lipid belt region in the vicinity of the protein. Further refinement of this topographical information was provided by the parallax method using phospholipid spin labels. The AChR-vicinal lipid is in a liquid-ordered phase and exhibits a higher degree of order than the bulk bilayer lipid. Changes in FRET efficiency induced by fatty acids, phospholipid, and cholesterol also led to the identification of discrete sites for these lipids on the AChR protein. I also illustrate the extension of Laurdan fluorescence studies to intact living cells heterologously expressing AChR in a brief section devoted to recent studies using two-photon fluorescence microscopy. The spatial resolution afforded by the two-photon optical sectioning of the cell in combination with the advantageous spectroscopic properties of Laurdan are exploited to obtain information on the physical state of the lipid environment of the membrane. Finally, the application of site-specific labeling and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy to probe the location of AChR membrane-embedded domains is illustrated. The topography of the pyrene-labeled Cys residues in transmembrane domains M1, M4, M1, and M4 with respect to the membrane was determined by differential fluorescence quenching with lipid-resident spin-labeled probes. Cys residues were found to lie in a shallow position. For M4 segments, this is compatible with a linear -helical structure, but not so for M1, for which classical models locate Cys residues at the center of the hydrophobic stretch. The transmembrane topography of M1 can be rationalized on the basis of the presence of a substantial amount of nonhelical structure and/or of kinks attributable to the occurrence of the evolutionarily conserved proline residues. The latter is a striking feature of M1 in the AChR and all members of the rapid ligand-gated ion channel superfamily.     

活细胞内的单分子荧光成像方法

文章介绍近年来新发展的几种重要的活细胞内单分子荧光成像方法,如转盘式共聚焦显微术、全内反射荧光显微术、荧光共振能量转移技术等。通过介绍它们的原理、特点和在活细胞内单分子行为研究中的应用实例,展示了这些新方法在生命科学领域广阔的应用前景。     

Quantum dot labeling based on near-field optical imaging of CD44 molecules

The lateral organization of membrane proteins and lipids domains has a direct impact on many cellular processes, but generally these domains are too small to be resolved by diffraction-limited resolution of fluorescence microscopy. Here, we use quantum dot (QD) labeling based on near-field optical imaging, to study the nanoscale organization of hyaluronan receptor CD44 molecules of fixed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in air, with a optical resolution down to 50 nm. The photostability and high luminance of QD evidently improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reproducibility of near-field optical data. Importantly, the blinking-intensity analysis was proposed to identify single QD, providing a calibration to relate intensity to numbers of antibody for the first time. Additionally, the fluorescence-topographic imaging enables us to investigate the topographic location pattern. Our results demonstrate that CD44 molecules on MSCs are enriched into nanosized domain and they predominantly locate on the peak of the membrane protrusions, which may contribute to clarify the underlying mechanism of functions ascribed to these molecules.     

MISTRAL: a transmission soft X‐ray microscopy beamline for cryo nano‐tomography of biological samples and magnetic domains imaging

The performance of MISTRAL is reported, the soft X‐ray transmission microscopy beamline at the ALBA light source (Barcelona, Spain) which is primarily dedicated to cryo soft X‐ray tomography (cryo‐SXT) for three‐dimensional visualization of whole unstained cells at spatial resolutions down to 30 nm (half pitch). Short acquisition times allowing for high‐throughput and correlative microscopy studies have promoted cryo‐SXT as an emerging cellular imaging tool for structural cell biologists bridging the gap between optical and electron microscopy. In addition, the beamline offers the possibility of imaging magnetic domains in thin magnetic films that are illustrated here with an example.