Endosome motility defects revealed at super-resolution in live cells using HIDE probes

Nat Chem Biol. 2020 Apr;16(4):408-414. doi: 10.1038/s41589-020-0479-z. Epub 2020 Feb 24.

Abstract

We report new lipid-based, high-density, environmentally sensitive (HIDE) probes that accurately and selectively image endo-lysosomes and their dynamics at super-resolution for extended times. Treatment of live cells with the small molecules DiIC16TCO or DiIC16'TCO followed by in situ tetrazine ligation reaction with the silicon-rhodamine dye SiR-Tz generates the HIDE probes DiIC16-SiR and DiIC16'-SiR in the endo-lysosomal membrane. These new probes support the acquisition of super-resolution videos of organelle dynamics in primary cells for more than 7 min with no detectable change in endosome structure or function. Using DiIC16-SiR and DiIC16'-SiR, we describe direct evidence of endosome motility defects in cells from patients with Niemann-Pick Type-C disease. In wild-type fibroblasts, the probes reveal distinct but rare inter-endosome kiss-and-run events that cannot be observed using confocal methods. Our results shed new light on the role of NPC1 in organelle motility and cholesterol trafficking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Carbocyanines / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Protein Transport

Substances

  • 3,3'-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine
  • Carbocyanines
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Cholesterol