Two-color STED microscopy reveals different degrees of colocalization between hexokinase-I and the three human VDAC isoforms

The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC, also known as mitochondrial porin) is the major transport channel mediating the transport of metabolites, including ATP, across the mitochondrial outer membrane. Biochemical data demonstrate the binding of the cytosolic protein hexokinase-I to VDAC, facilitating the direct access of hexokinase-I to the transported ATP. In human cells, three hVDAC isoforms have been identified. However, little is known on the distribution of these isoforms within the outer membrane of mitochondria and to what extent they colocalize with hexokinase-I. In this study we show that whereas hVDAC1 and hVDAC2 are localized predominantly within the same distinct domains in the outer membrane, hVDAC3 is mostly uniformly distributed over the surface of the mitochondrion. We used two-color stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy enabling a lateral resolution of ~40 nm to determine the detailed sub-mitochondrial distribution of the three hVDAC isoforms and hexokinase-I. Individual hVDAC and hexokinase-I clusters could thus be resolved which were concealed in the confocal images. Quantitative colocalization analysis of two-color STED images demonstrates that within the attained resolution, hexokinase-I and hVDAC3 exhibit a higher degree of colocalization than hexokinase-I with either hVDAC1 or hVDAC2. Furthermore, a substantial fraction of the mitochondria-bound hexokinase-I pool does not colocalize with any of the three hVDAC isoforms, suggesting a more complex interplay of these proteins than previously anticipated. This study demonstrates that two-color STED microscopy in conjunction with quantitative colocalization analysis is a powerful tool to study the complex distribution of membrane proteins in organelles such as mitochondria

STED nanoscopy of actin dynamics in synapses deep inside living brain slices

It is difficult to investigate the mechanisms that mediate long-term changes in synapse function because synapses are small and deeply embedded inside brain tissue. Although recent fluorescence nanoscopy techniques afford improved resolution, they have so far been restricted to dissociated cells or tissue surfaces. However, to study synapses under realistic conditions, one must image several cell layers deep inside more-intact, three-dimensional preparations that exhibit strong light scattering, such as brain slices or brains in vivo. Using aberration-reducing optics, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve stimulated emission depletion superresolution imaging deep inside scattering biological tissue. To illustrate the power of this novel (to our knowledge) approach, we resolved distinct distributions of actin inside dendrites and spines with a resolution of 60–80 nm in living organotypic brain slices at depths up to 120 μm. In addition, time-lapse stimulated emission depletion imaging revealed changes in actin-based structures inside spines and spine necks, and showed that these dynamics can be modulated by neuronal activity. Our approach greatly facilitates investigations of actin dynamics at the nanoscale within functionally intact brain tissue

Switchable Fluorescent and Solvatochromic Molecular Probes Based on 4-Amino-N-methylphthalimide and a Photochromic Diarylethene

New fluorescent photochromic compounds (1-H and 1-Boc)have been synthesized and characterized in different solvents.The fluorescence emission can be switched “on” and“off” with visible light and UV, respectively, by means of thephotochromic reaction. The emission wavelength and efficiencystrongly depend on the polarity of the solvent. Thecompounds show a positive solvatochromic effect in theemission maxima, and their fluorescence quantum yield decreasesas the solvent’s polarity increases (from cyclohexaneto dioxane). In solvents more polar than dioxane the emissionis too weak and therefore undetectable, and thus 1-H and 1-Boc behave as “normal” photochromic compounds. The photochromic reaction is also sensitive to the environment. A decreaseof more than an order of magnitude was found for thequantum yield of the colouring reaction (ΦOFCF) for 1-H inethanol compared with cyclohexane, and an about threefolddecrease in ΦOFCF was observed for the compound 1-Bocin polar solvents (compared with apolar solvents). For bothcompounds the ring-opening reaction was found not to dependenton the solvent. The novel fluorescent molecularswitches 1-H and 1-Boc are able to probe the polarity of theirmicroenvironment.Fil: Yan, Sergey F.. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Belov, Vladimir N.. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Bossi, Mariano Luis. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; ArgentinaFil: Hell, Stefan W.. Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry; Alemani

Fluorescence Nanoscopy in Whole Cells by Asynchronous Localization of Photoswitching Emitters

We demonstrate nanoscale resolution in far-field fluorescence microscopy using reversible photoswitching and localization of individual fluorophores at comparatively fast recording speeds and from the interior of intact cells. These advancements have become possible by asynchronously recording the photon bursts of individual molecular switching cycles. We present images from the microtubular network of an intact mammalian cell with a resolution of 40 nm