Labeling of cell membranes and compartments for live cell fluorescence microscopy

Direct interaction between marine cyanobacteria mediated by nanotubes

Microbial associations and interactions drive and regulate nutrient fluxes in the ocean. However, physical contact between cells of marine cyanobacteria has not been studied thus far. Here, we show a mechanism of direct interaction between the marine cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, the intercellular membrane nanotubes. We present evidence of inter- and intra-genus exchange of cytoplasmic material between neighboring and distant cells of cyanobacteria mediated by nanotubes. We visualized and measured these structures in xenic and axenic cultures and in natural samples. We show that nanotubes are produced between living cells, suggesting that this is a relevant system of exchange material in vivo. The discovery of nanotubes acting as exchange bridges in the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in the ocean may have important implications for their interactions with other organisms and their population dynamics.

A detection method for neuronal death indicates abnormalities in intracellular membranous components in neuronal cells that underwent delayed death

Acute neuronal degeneration is always preceded under the light and electron microscopes by a stage called microvacuolation, which is characterized by a finely vacuolar alteration in the cytoplasm of the neurons destined to death. In this study, we reported a method for detecting neuronal death using two membrane-bound dyes, rhodamine R6 and DiOC₆(3), which may be associated with the so-called microvacuolation. This new method produced a spatiotemporally similar staining pattern to Fluoro-Jade B in kainic acid-damaged brains in mice. Further experiments showed that increased staining of rhodamine R6 and DiOC₆(3) was observed only in degenerated neurons, but not in glia, erythrocytes, or meninges. Different from Fluoro-Jade-related dyes, rhodamine R6 and DiOC₆(3) staining is highly sensitive to solvent extraction and detergent exposure. Staining with Nile red for phospholipids and filipin III for non-esterified cholesterol supports that the increased staining of rhodamine R6 and DiOC₆(3) might be associated with increased levels of phospholipids and free cholesterol in the perinuclear cytoplasm of damaged neurons. In addition to kainic acid-injected neuronal death, rhodamine R6 and DiOC₆(3) were similarly useful for detecting neuronal death in ischemic models either in vivo or in vitro. As far as we know, the staining with rhodamine R6 or DiOC₆(3) is one of a few histochemical methods for detecting neuronal death whose target molecules have been well defined and therefore may be useful for explaining experimental results as well as exploring the mechanisms of neuronal death. (250 words).

Rab35 regulates skeletogenesis and gastrulation by facilitating actin remodeling and vesicular trafficking

Rab35 is a small GTPase that regulates plasma membrane to early endosome vesicular trafficking and mediates actin remodeling to form actin-rich cellular structures. While the function of Rab35 in the cellular context has been examined, its role during development has not been well studied. In this study, we take advantage of the sea urchin's high fecundity, external fertilization, and transparent embryos to determine the function of Rab35 during development. We found that loss of function of Rab35 results in defects in skeletogenesis and gastrulation, which were rescued by co-injection of sea urchin Rab35. The loss of Rab35's function results in decreased endocytosis and impaired exocytosis, which may be important for skeletogenesis and gastrulation. Skeletal spicules of Rab35 knockdown embryos have reduced organized actin compared to the control, supporting the notion that Rab35 regulates actin dynamics. In addition, the skeletal and gastrulation defects induced by Rab35 knockdown were rescued by co-injection with Fascin, an actin-bundling protein, indicating that proper actin dynamics play a critical role for both skeletogenesis and gastrulation. Overall, results indicate that through its role in mediating vesicular trafficking and actin remodeling, Rab35 is an important regulator of embryonic structure formation in early development.

The multilayer nanoparticles for deep penetration of docetaxel into tumor parenchyma to overcome tumor microenvironment

Deep penetration of the anticancer drug, docetaxel (DTX), into tumor parenchyma was demonstrated to achieve improved chemotherapy. For this purpose, a multistage nanostructure was designed and characterized using the multilayer nanoparticles (NPs). The multilayer NPs had a core/shell structure. The core was composed of the DTX-loaded Pluronic NPs (diameter: 12nm) that were transferred into the inner side of vesicles to form the vesicle NPs. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in the NPs was observed to verify the incorporation of the DTX-loaded Pluronic NPs into the inner side of the vesicles during the formation of the vesicle NPs. Subsequently, the vesicle NPs were stabilized through Pluronic-lipid bilayer interaction to form the multilayer NPs. To examine the morphology and size distribution of the multilayer NPs, transmittance electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used. In vitro release behavior and toxicity were observed to verify the functionality of the multilayer NPs as nanocarriers for cancer therapy. Multistage functionality was evaluated by cellular uptake and tissue distribution behaviors of the multilayer NPs. The biodistribution of the multilayer NPs and their antitumor efficacy were also observed to understand the role of multistage functionality for improved chemotherapy.

Live imaging of Tribolium castaneum embryonic development using light-sheet-based fluorescence microscopy

Tribolium castaneum has become an important insect model organism for evolutionary developmental biology, genetics and biotechnology. However, few protocols for live fluorescence imaging of Tribolium have been reported, and little image data is available. Here we provide a protocol for recording the development of Tribolium embryos with light-sheet-based fluorescence microscopy. The protocol can be completed in 4-7 d and provides procedural details for: embryo collection, microscope configuration, embryo preparation and mounting, noninvasive live imaging for up to 120 h along multiple directions, retrieval of the live embryo once imaging is completed, and image data processing, for which exemplary data is provided. Stringent quality control criteria for developmental biology studies are also discussed. Light-sheet-based fluorescence microscopy complements existing toolkits used to study Tribolium development, can be adapted to other insect species, and requires no advanced imaging or sample preparation skills.

Oocyte maturation and fertilization in marine nemertean worms: using similar sorts of signaling pathways as in mammals, but often with differing results

In marine worms belonging to the phylum Nemertea, oocyte maturation and fertilization are regulated by the same general kinds of signals that control such processes in mammals. However, unlike mammalian oocytes that develop within follicles, nemertean oocytes characteristically lack a surrounding sheath of follicle cells and often respond differently to maturation-related cues than do mammalian oocytes. For example, elevators of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) or cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels promote the resumption of meiotic maturation (=germinal vesicle breakdown, GVBD) in nemertean oocytes, whereas increasing intraoocytic cAMP and cGMP typically blocks GVBD in mammals. Similarly, AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) signaling keeps nemertean oocytes from maturing, but in mouse oocytes, AMPK activation triggers GVBD. In addition, protein kinase C (PKC) activity is required for seawater-induced GVBD in nemerteans, whereas some PKCs have been shown to inhibit GVBD in mammals. Furthermore, although fertilization causes both types of oocytes to reorganize their endoplasmic reticulum and generate calcium oscillations that can involve soluble sperm factor activity and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signaling, some discrepancies in the spatiotemporal patterns and underlying mechanisms of fertilization are also evident in nemerteans versus mammals. Thus, to characterize differences and similarities in gamete biology more fully, aspects of oocyte maturation and fertilization in marine nemertean worms are reviewed and briefly compared with related findings that have been published for mammalian oocytes. In addition, possible causes of the alternative responses displayed by oocytes in these two animal groups are addressed.

Potential limitations in the use of KillerRed for fluorescence microscopy

KillerRed, a bright red fluorescent protein, is a genetically encoded photosensitizer, which generates radicals and hydrogen peroxide upon green light illumination. The protein is a potentially powerful tool for selective light-induced protein inactivation and cell killing, and can also be used to study downstream effects of locally increased levels of reactive oxygen species. The initial aim of this study was to investigate whether or not KillerRed-mediated reactive oxygen species production inside peroxisomes could trigger the sequestration of these organelles into autophagosomes. Green fluorescent protein-tagged microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 was used as autophagosome marker. We observed that KillerRed also emits weak green fluorescence upon excitation at 480 nm, and this may lead to erroneous data interpretation in conditions where green fluorophores are used. We discuss this potential pitfall of KillerRed for biological imaging and formulate recommendations to avoid misinterpretation of the data.

Calcium- and polyphosphate-containing acidic granules of sea urchin eggs are similar to acidocalcisomes, but are not the targets for NAADP

Acidocalcisomes are acidic calcium-storage compartments described from bacteria to humans and characterized by their high content in poly P (polyphosphate), a linear polymer of many tens to hundreds of Pi residues linked by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds. In the present paper we report that millimolar levels of short-chain poly P (in terms of Pi residues) and inorganic PPi are present in sea urchin extracts as detected using 31P-NMR, enzymatic determinations and agarose gel electrophoresis. Poly P was localized to granules randomly distributed in the sea urchin eggs, as shown by labelling with the poly-P-binding domain of Escherichia coli exopolyphosphatase. These granules were enriched using iodixanol centrifugation and shown to be acidic and to contain poly P, as determined by Acridine Orange and DAPI (4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining respectively. These granules also contained large amounts of calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and zinc, as detected by X-ray microanalysis, and bafilomycin A1-sensitive ATPase, pyrophosphatase and exopolyphosphatase activities, as well as Ca2+/H+ and Na+/H+ exchange activities, being therefore similar to acidocalcisomes described in other organisms. Calcium release from these granules induced by nigericin was associated with poly P hydrolysis. Although NAADP (nicotinic acid-adenine dinucleotide phosphate) released calcium from the granule fraction, this activity was not significantly enriched as compared with the NAADP-stimulated calcium release from homogenates and was not accompanied by poly P hydrolysis. GPN (glycyl-L-phenylalanine-naphthylamide) released calcium when added to sea urchin homogenates, but was unable to release calcium from acidocalcisome-enriched fractions, suggesting that these acidic stores are not the targets for NAADP.

Maturation, fertilization, and the structure and function of the endoplasmic reticulum in cryopreserved mouse oocytes

Oocyte cryopreservation is a promising technology that could benefit women undergoing assisted reproduction. Most studies examining the effects of cryopreservation on fertilization and developmental competence have been done using metaphase II-stage oocytes, while fewer studies have focused on freezing oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage, followed by in vitro maturation. Herein, we examined the effects of vitrifying GV-stage mouse oocytes on cytoplasmic structure and on the ability to undergo cytoplasmic changes necessary for proper fertilization and early embryonic development. We examined the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as one indicator of cytoplasmic structure, as well as the ability of oocytes to develop Ca(2+) release mechanisms following vitrification and in vitro maturation. Vitrified GV-stage oocytes matured in culture to metaphase II at a rate comparable to that of controls. These oocytes had the capacity to release Ca(2+) following injection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, demonstrating that Ca(2+) release mechanisms developed during meiotic maturation. The ER remained intact during the vitrification procedure as assessed using the lipophilic fluorescent dye DiI. However, the reorganization of the ER that occurs during in vivo maturation was impaired in oocytes that were vitrified before oocyte maturation. These results show that vitrification of GV-stage oocytes does not affect nuclear maturation or the continuity of the ER, but normal cytoplasmic maturation as assessed by the reorganization of the ER is disrupted. Deficiencies in factors that are responsible for proper ER reorganization during oocyte maturation could contribute to the low developmental potential previously reported in vitrified in vitro-matured oocytes.