Dynamic imaging of single secretory granule in cultured PC12 cells

Sheng Wu Hua Xue Yu Sheng Wu Wu Li Xue Bao (Shanghai). 2003 Apr;35(4):381-6.

Abstract

Fluorescent labeling and dynamic imaging of secretory vesicles are new powerful means to study the mechanisms of protein and membrane trafficking. The large dense-core granules in PC12 cells were labeled by transfecting EGFP-hpNPY chimera and imaged with epi-fluorescence and evanescent field (EF) fluorescence simultaneously. Under epi-fluorescence illumination, the cells exhibited nearly uniform fluorescence, however, EF-fluorescence excitation revealed distinct fluorescent spots corresponding to GFP-labeled granules. The trafficking, docking and fusing with plasma membrane of individual granule in cultured PC12 cells were observed directly by EF fluorescence imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • PC12 Cells / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Secretory Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins