Three-Dimensional Fluorescence Microscopy of Endothelial Cells Labeled with Coumarins

Fluorescent coumarins were synthesized with the objective of introducing a glucosamine part in the chemical structure, with either hydroxyl or acetyl functions. The photophysical behavior was studied in organic solvents with different polarity and viscosity. The location of the fluorescent coumarins in endothelial cells was studied using fluorescence microscopy imaging, especially with a 3-D CELLscan instrument.     

An ESR, Mass Spectrometry and Fluorescence Microscopy Approach to Study the Stearic Acid Derivatives Anchoring in Cells

Lateral phase separations in biological membranes are of great interest, making electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy combined with spin labeling a nondestructive and sensitive technique for the study of lipid rafts. It is currently accepted that the spin probe is localized on the plasma membrane. However, no study confirms this hypothesis. Herein, we report, for the first time, an accurate multispectral method for the quantification of the lipid spin label presence in every subcellular fraction. Cells were incubated with the 5-DOXYL stearic acid derivative and then subfractionated. Results of our multimodal spectroscopy approach ubiquitously demonstrate that the ESR spin label presence only sets in the plasma membranes.     

核酸与有机小分子反应机理的荧光特性研究

核酸与有机小分子的反应机理对认识核酸的结构与功能具有重要作用,也是揭示核酸的生物功能与一些药物的作用机制的重要途径。研究核酸与有机小分子之间的相互作用对生命过程的模拟和生命本质的探索具有十分重要的意义,并对近年来该领域采用的荧光光谱法进行了综述,从温度、双分子猝灭过程的速率常数、荧光寿命以及吸收光谱的变化等方面作了论述,从而确定了核酸与有机小分子(染料和药物)之间相互作用的荧光猝灭类型;总结了结合常数、荧光给体-受体间的作用距离、作用力类型及结合方式的多种求算方法,并分别阐述了核酸与染料及药物在不同结合数下生成常数的计算方法。这对研究核酸与有机小分子之间的作用机理、开发新的核酸探针以及以核酸为靶标的药物分子的设计有一定的指导意义。     

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.     

酶荧光毛细分析法测定血清中微量丙酮酸

提出了一种用于血清微量丙酮酸（PA）测定的酶荧光毛细分析法（P-LE-FCA）。优选的测定条件为：乳酸脱氢酶和还原型辅酶Ⅰ的浓度分别为100U/L和60μmol/L,反应时间5min。测定PA的线性范围4—80μmol/L,检出限0.73μmol/L,RSD〈1.3%。血清共存物质对PA测定无明显干扰。使用该方法对血清PA进行测定,其回收率在93.0%—106.5%之间;结果与常规紫外分光光度法一致。本方法的样品预处理过程简单、省时,省试剂,灵敏度高,重现性好。     

Investigations of RhB Langmuir monolayer by Fluorescence Imaging Microscopy

This communication reports the surface pressure vs area per molecule isotherm and Fluorescence Imaging Microscopic studies of the formation of domain structure in the mixed Langmuir monolayer of RhB and Stearic acid (SA) at the air-water interface. Strong repulsive interaction between the unlike components leads to the phase separation and formation of microcrystalline domains at the air-water interface of the Langmuir monolayer. These domains can be directly visualized using fluorescence imaging microscope.     

Chemical Imaging of Phase-Separated Polymer Blends by Fluorescence Microscopy

Blends of poly(vinylacetate) (PVAc) and poly(cyclohexylmethacrylate) (PCHMA) labeled by copolymerization with 4-methacryloylamine-4-nitrostilbene (Sb), with (1-pyrenylmethyl)methacrylate (Py), or with 3-(methacryloylamine)propyl-N-carbazole (Cbz) were prepared by casting dilute solutions in tetrahydrofurane (THF) or chloroform. Films about 10 m thick were formed. Phase separation in two types of domains is observed by transmission optical microscopy (TOM) and epifluorescence microscopy (EFM): small craters of 1 to 10 m placed at the polymer-air interface and larger domains, on the scale of 100 m. The morphology of samples depends on the composition of the polymer blend and on solvent. The green fluorescence of Sb, the violet of Py, or the blue of Cbz provides imaging of the distribution of PCHMA in the different domains and in the matrix. It is thus observed that (i) superficial craters and large domains are formed mainly by PCHMA and (ii) the matrix is composed of PVAc in films cast from THF and it is a blend of the two polymers, homogeneous at the submicrometric scale, for chloroform. The emission intensity of Py, recorded by microfluorescence spectroscopy (MFS), yields a mapping similar to imaging detection. It is remarkable that in films cast from chloroform, the smaller domains are distributed with a 2D hexatic order disrupted by dislocations and disclinations, whereas in films cast from THF, a larger heterogeneity is found, denoting different mechanisms of solvent evaporation.     

不同荧光波长的双光子共焦成像分析

研究了双光子共焦显微镜中不同荧光波长对成像特性的影响,导出了不同荧光波长的三维脉冲响应函数和三维光学传递函数并进行数值计算.研究结果表明：不同荧光波长对双光子共焦显微镜的三维光学传递函数、三维脉冲响应函数和空间截止频率产生明显的影响,随着荧光波长的增大,分辨率明显下降,但不会出现单光子共焦显微镜中的失锥现象,选取适当的荧光波长进行成像,有利于进一步改善图像分辨率和成像质量.     

荧光光谱法测定核酸的研究

研究了花菁Ⅱ与核酸的相互作用,发现在核酸的存在下,花菁Ⅱ的荧光被明显地猝灭,且猝灭程度与核酸的浓度存在良好的线性关系.     

乳腺组织中核酸的FTIR光谱分析

在物理因素和化学因素的影响下 ,乳腺组织中DNA分子结构发生改变而出现损伤 ,导致碱基结构的诱发变异。研究表明 ,FTIR光谱能够灵敏地反应这种结构变化。通过比较不同类型乳腺疾病组织的FTIR光谱、去卷积光谱和数据分析 ,可以看出正常组织、良性组织以及癌组织在蛋白质、核酸和糖含量方面的差异。通过对不同类型乳腺组织中核酸的提取 ,经FTIR光谱和去卷积光谱分析 ,进一步研究了核酸中碱基结构和含量 ,磷酸盐结构和含量之间的差异。结果表明 :癌变组织中胶原蛋白和核酸含量有明显增加 ,糖蛋白含量逐渐减少 (除粘液癌外 )。提取核酸后的光谱和光谱数据显示 :癌变组织中碱基环鸟嘌呤的氢键化程度增强 ;在自由基·OH攻击下 ,癌组织中碱基环腺嘌呤大多数是以氧化的 8 OH Ade形式而存在 ,由于CN振动增强 ,峰位移向高波数 ,磷酸盐含量增加 ,去卷积后 ,A1 0 80 A1 0 50 数据显示 ,从正常、良性到癌组织 ,PO-2 相对于C—O含量增大。从分子生物学、分子医学角度 ,为研究癌变机理提供重要依据     

水稻花粉颗粒显微图像采集与分析系统研究

文章描述了水稻花粉颗粒显微图像采集与分析系统的原理及结构.充分利用细胞显微图像彩色信息进行阈值分割,根据细胞形态特征,提出一种形态识别统计算法.实验结果证明此方法快速、有效,并已初步应用于农业生物学研究.     

Measurement of Light and pH Dependence of Single-Cell Photosynthesis by Fluorescence Microscopy

Measurement of algal photosynthetic performance with conventional methods requires thousands of cells obtained by isolation and subsequent cultivation. This is a time-consuming process for many species. We describe a new method to study photosynthetic performance of single algal cells under various environmental conditions by a combination of modulated chlorophyll fluorescence, light microscopy, and sample manipulation techniques. Single cell fluorescence was measured with a modulated microfluorometer integrated in an inverted microscope. The algal cell was sucked onto the tip of a glass microcapillary and positioned in the center of the field of view of the microscope by a micromanipulator. A superfusion device was used to generate a flow of experimental solution of variable composition along the alga. The light dependence of Scenedesmus obtusiusculus single-cell photosystem II (PSII) electron flow was measured at various pH. At a high light intensity PSII electron flow was inhibited at pH 6.5 and higher, while at a low light inhibition occurred at pH 9.5. This is in agreement with inhibition of photosynthesis by substrate (CO₂) limitation at alkaline pH. This approach can easily be extended to study the in vivo effects of other abiotic parameters (temperature, nutrients, toxicants, oxygen) on the photosynthetic performance of algae.     

原子荧光法测定干酵母中微量砷和汞

氢化物 -原子荧光测定干酵母中微量的砷和汞 ,探讨了样品的消解条件 ,仪器工作参数 ,硼氢化钾浓度对测定的影响。该方法简便快速、结果准确、重现性好。加标回收率 As:98.99%,Hg:98.32 %。相对标准偏差 As:0 .1 1 %,Hg:0 .0 3%。     

Molecular Dynamics of Biological Probes by Fluorescence Correlation Microscopy with Two-Photon Excitation

We report on the application of fluorescence correlation microscopy under two-photon excitation of fluorophores of biological interest: FITC–dextran (MW, from 20 to 150 kDa), green fluorescent protein (MW, 27 kDa), and fluorescein (MW, 330 Da). Under these experimental conditions, the translational diffusion coefficients of these molecules in aqueous solutions derived from the fluorescence intensity autocorrelation function were determined for the first time and were found to be 24 × 10^–7, 8.2 × 10^–7, and 3 × 10^–7 cm² s^–1 for 150-kDa FITC–dextran, green fluorescent protein, and fluorescein, respectively. These results are discussed in connection with previously reported results obtained by different methods. The great sensibility of the system has been applied to single-molecule detection of the smaller fluorophore, fluorescein.     

隐失驻波全内反射荧光显微术的数值计算

从理论上详细计算了在全内反射的条件下，两束入射光产生的隐失干涉场(即隐失驻波)的强度分布，并分析了其不同于传统传播波干涉场的特点。同时使用数值模拟证明了利用隐失干涉场，即隐失驻波的激发方式，可以提高系统的分辨力，在横向实现超经典分辨的荧光成像。具体的分析表明，两束光以相等的角度入射，同时振幅相等，偏振态相同，所形成干涉条纹的反衬度最高，此时成像系统的有效点扩展函数最优化；入射介质1的折射率越大，隐失干涉场的空间周期越短(空间频率越高)，其对应的调制点扩展函数中心瓣的半峰全宽越小，可能分辨更小的物体，但同时旁瓣的强度也增强，最终成像的分辨力受两者的共同制约。     

反射式数字全息显微术对细胞的研究

根据全息理论和光的衍射理论,理论分析了数字全息显微术原理,并依据四步相移和最小二乘相位展开技术,研究了重构细胞相位的方法.设计了用球面光波作为参考光的反射式数字全息显微光路,通过反射式数字全息显微术的方法分析研究了新鲜洋葱表皮细胞的形貌结构.实验以新鲜洋葱表皮细胞为样本,完成了实验检测和相位重构,得到了细胞的相位和三维信息.分析表明,系统理论分辨率应达到0.8 μm.     

小鼠小梁细胞与肌成纤维细胞的同步辐射红外显微光谱

原发性开角型青光眼是常见的致盲性眼部疾病。眼压升高是原发性开角型青光眼发生和发展最主要的危险因素,是由小梁网途径的房水外流排出系统发生病变、房水流出阻力增加所致。研究表明,房水中存在的转化生长因子-β能够使小梁细胞纤维化,诱导小梁细胞过度增殖,从而阻碍房水外流,导致原发性开角型青光眼的发生。原发性开角型青光眼发病隐蔽,病程进展缓慢,早期没有任何症状,往往到晚期视力视野有显著损害时,才会被发现,因此原发性开角型青光眼的早期诊断尤为重要。同步辐射红外显微成像结合高亮度、高分辨率的同步辐射源,同时配备傅里叶变换红外光谱仪与红外显微镜,可以实现细胞的检测。这对从分子层面获取细胞的变化信息,深入理解疾病的发病机制以及疾病的早期诊断具有非常重要的意义。虽然有很多红外光谱在生物医学领域的研究报道,但是应用红外光谱显微成像技术研究细胞等生物医学体系仍然是亟待发展的领域,并且目前未找到关于红外光谱用于小梁网细胞的检测报道。在体外用转化生长因子-β对老鼠小梁网细胞进行诱导,使其转化为肌成纤维细胞,模拟小梁细胞纤维化过程。对小梁网细胞以及经转化生长因子-β诱导形成的肌成纤维细胞进行同步辐射红外显微成像及光谱分析,并进一步探讨同步辐射用于早期诊断原发性开角型青光眼的可行性。研究表明肌成纤维细胞内的弹性蛋白明显高于小梁网细胞,而弹性蛋白中95%为非极性氨基酸,即氨基酸的侧链基团R基只有C和H两种元素。对比两种细胞的红外谱图,发现在2 934,2 900和2 845 cm-1,肌成纤维细胞的 CH₃,CH₂和CH的伸缩振动明显强于小梁网细胞,推测可能是由于转化生长因子-β诱导后细胞内弹性蛋白增加所致。在细胞层面检测了小梁网细胞的过度增殖,为将来可以直接获取细胞的红外光谱从而检测小梁网细胞的增殖程度,进而检测原发性开角型青光眼等疾病奠定了基础。得出同步辐射红外谱学与显微成像有望成为检测原发性开角型青光眼新手段的结论,也为将来便携式红外显微光谱仪临床实时检测青光眼等疾病提供了依据。     

Styryl Dyes as Two-Photon Excited Fluorescent Probes for DNA Detection and Two-Photon Laser Scanning Fluorescence Microscopy of Living Cells

Spectral-fluorescent properties of benzothiazole styryl monomer (Bos-3) and homodimer (DBos-21) dyes in presence of DNA were studied. The dyes enhance their fluorescence intensity in 2–3 orders of magnitude upon interaction with DNA. Studied styrylcyanines in DNA presence demonstrate rather high values of two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section, which are comparable with the values of TPA cross section of the rhodamine dyes. An applicability of the styrylcyanines as probes for the fluorescence microscopy of living cells was studied. It was shown that both dyes are cell-permeable but homodimer dye DBos-21 produces noticeably brighter staining of HeLa cells comparing with monomer dye Bos-3. Molecules of DBos-21 initially bind to the nucleic acids- containing cell organelles (presumable mitochondria) and are able to penetrate into the cell nucleus. Thus, homodimer styryl DBos-21 dye is viewed as efficient stain for single-photon and two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging of living cells.     

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer and Complex Formation Between Thiazole Orange and Various Dye-DNA Conjugates: Implications in Signaling Nucleic Acid Hybridization

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was investigated between the intercalating dye thiazole orange (TO), and the dyes Cyanine 3 (Cy3), Cyanine 5 (Cy5), Carboxytetramethyl Rhodamine (TAMRA), Iowa Black FQ (IabFQ), and Iowa Black RQ (IabRQ), which were covalently immobilized at the end of dsDNA oligonucleotides. In addition to determining that TO was an effective energy donor, FRET efficiency data obtained from fluorescence lifetime measurements indicated that TO intercalated near the middle of the 19mer oligonucleotide sequence that was used in this study. Discrepancies in FRET efficiencies obtained from intensity and lifetime measurements led to the investigation of non-fluorescent complex formation between TAMRA and modified TO. The hydrophobicity of TO was modified by the addition of either an alkyl or polyethylene glycol (PEG) side-chain to study effects of dimer and aggregate formation. It was found that at stoichiometric excesses of modified TO, fluorescence quenching of TAMRA was observed, and that this could be correlated to the hydrophobicity of a TO-chain species. The TAMRA:TO-chain association constant for the TO-alkyl system was 0.043+/-0.002 M(-1), while that obtained for the TO-PEG was 0.037+/-0.002 M(-1). From the perspective of method development for the transduction of hybridization events, we present and evaluate a variety of schemes based on energy transfer between TO and an acceptor dye, and discuss the implications of complex formation in such schemes.