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Okolo CA, Maran JJ, Watts A, Maripillan J, Harkiolaki M, Martínez AD, Green CR, Mugisho OO. Correlative light and X-ray tomography jointly unveil the critical role of connexin43 channels on inflammation-induced cellular ultrastructural alterations. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27888. [PMID: 38560181 PMCID: PMC10979075 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-junctional connexin43 (Cx43) plasma membrane hemichannels have been implicated in several inflammatory diseases, particularly playing a role in ATP release that triggers activation of the inflammasome. Therapies targeting the blocking of the hemichannels to prevent the pathological release or uptake of ions and signalling molecules through its pores are of therapeutic interest. To date, there is no close-to-native, high-definition documentation of the impact of Cx43 hemichannel-mediated inflammation on cellular ultrastructure, neither is there a robust account of the ultrastructural changes that occur following treatment with selective Cx43 hemichannel blockers such as Xentry-Gap19 (XG19). A combination of same-sample correlative high-resolution three-dimensional fluorescence microscopy and soft X-ray tomography at cryogenic temperatures, enabled in the identification of novel 3D molecular interactions within the cellular milieu when comparing behaviour in healthy states and during the early onset or late stages under inflammatory conditions. Notably, our findings suggest that XG19 blockage of connexin hemichannels under pro-inflammatory conditions may be crucial in preventing the direct degradation of connexosomes by lysosomes, without affecting connexin protein translation and trafficking. We also delineated fine and gross cellular phenotypes, characteristic of inflammatory insult or road-to-recovery from inflammation, where XG19 could indirectly prevent and reverse inflammatory cytokine-induced mitochondrial swelling and cellular hypertrophy through its action on Cx43 hemichannels. Our findings suggest that XG19 might have prophylactic and therapeutic effects on the inflammatory response, in line with functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chidinma Adanna Okolo
- Beamline B24, Life Sciences Division, Diamond Light Source, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jack Jonathan Maran
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Amy Watts
- Beamline B24, Life Sciences Division, Diamond Light Source, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Jaime Maripillan
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Maria Harkiolaki
- Beamline B24, Life Sciences Division, Diamond Light Source, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Agustín D. Martínez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Colin R. Green
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Odunayo Omolola Mugisho
- Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Arsana KGY, Saladino GM, Brodin B, Toprak MS, Hertz HM. Laboratory Liquid-Jet X-ray Microscopy and X-ray Fluorescence Imaging for Biomedical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:920. [PMID: 38255992 PMCID: PMC10815599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffraction-limited resolution and low penetration depth are fundamental constraints in optical microscopy and in vivo imaging. Recently, liquid-jet X-ray technology has enabled the generation of X-rays with high-power intensities in laboratory settings. By allowing the observation of cellular processes in their natural state, liquid-jet soft X-ray microscopy (SXM) can provide morphological information on living cells without staining. Furthermore, X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI) permits the tracking of contrast agents in vivo with high elemental specificity, going beyond attenuation contrast. In this study, we established a methodology to investigate nanoparticle (NP) interactions in vitro and in vivo, solely based on X-ray imaging. We employed soft (0.5 keV) and hard (24 keV) X-rays for cellular studies and preclinical evaluations, respectively. Our results demonstrated the possibility of localizing NPs in the intracellular environment via SXM and evaluating their biodistribution with in vivo multiplexed XFI. We envisage that laboratory liquid-jet X-ray technology will significantly contribute to advancing our understanding of biological systems in the field of nanomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hans M. Hertz
- Department of Applied Physics, Biomedical and X-ray Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden (G.M.S.)
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Chen JH, Vanslembrouck B, Ekman A, Aho V, Larabell CA, Le Gros MA, Vihinen-Ranta M, Weinhardt V. Soft X-ray Tomography Reveals HSV-1-Induced Remodeling of Human B Cells. Viruses 2022; 14:2651. [PMID: 36560654 PMCID: PMC9781670 DOI: 10.3390/v14122651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon infection, viruses hijack the cell machinery and remodel host cell structures to utilize them for viral proliferation. Since viruses are about a thousand times smaller than their host cells, imaging virus-host interactions at high spatial resolution is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Scouting gross cellular changes with fluorescent microscopy is only possible for well-established viruses, where fluorescent tagging is developed. Soft X-ray tomography (SXT) offers 3D imaging of entire cells without the need for chemical fixation or labeling. Here, we use full-rotation SXT to visualize entire human B cells infected by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). We have mapped the temporospatial remodeling of cells during the infection and observed changes in cellular structures, such as the presence of cytoplasmic stress granules and multivesicular structures, formation of nuclear virus-induced dense bodies, and aggregates of capsids. Our results demonstrate the power of SXT imaging for scouting virus-induced changes in infected cells and understanding the orchestration of virus-host remodeling quantitatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hua Chen
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Bieke Vanslembrouck
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Axel Ekman
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Vesa Aho
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Carolyn A. Larabell
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mark A. Le Gros
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Maija Vihinen-Ranta
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Venera Weinhardt
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Wittmeier A, Bernhardt M, Robisch AL, Cassini C, Osterhoff M, Salditt T, Köster S. Combined optical fluorescence microscopy and X-ray tomography reveals substructures in cell nuclei in 3D. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:4954-4969. [PMID: 36187264 PMCID: PMC9484410 DOI: 10.1364/boe.462493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The function of a biological cell is fundamentally defined by the structural architecture of packaged DNA in the nucleus. Elucidating information about the packaged DNA is facilitated by high-resolution imaging. Here, we combine and correlate hard X-ray propagation-based phase contrast tomography and visible light confocal microscopy in three dimensions to probe DNA in whole cell nuclei of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. In this way, unlabeled and fluorescently labeled substructures within the cell are visualized in a complementary manner. Our approach enables the quantification of the electron density, volume and optical fluorescence intensity of nuclear material. By joining all of this information, we are able to spatially localize and physically characterize both active and inactive heterochromatin, euchromatin, pericentric heterochromatin foci and nucleoli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Wittmeier
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marten Bernhardt
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Robisch
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Chiara Cassini
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Osterhoff
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Köster
- Institute for X-Ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
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Okolo CA. A guide into the world of high-resolution 3D imaging: the case of soft X-ray tomography for the life sciences. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:649-663. [PMID: 35257156 PMCID: PMC9162464 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In the world of bioimaging, every choice made determines the quality and content of the data collected. The choice of imaging techniques for a study could showcase or dampen expected outcomes. Synchrotron radiation is indispensable for biomedical research, driven by the need to see into biological materials and capture intricate biochemical and biophysical details at controlled environments. The same need drives correlative approaches that enable the capture of heterologous but complementary information when studying any one single target subject. Recently, the applicability of one such synchrotron technique in bioimaging, soft X-ray tomography (SXT), facilitates exploratory and basic research and is actively progressing towards filling medical and industrial needs for the rapid screening of biomaterials, reagents and processes of immediate medical significance. Soft X-ray tomography at cryogenic temperatures (cryoSXT) fills the imaging resolution gap between fluorescence microscopy (in the hundreds of nanometers but relatively accessible) and electron microscopy (few nanometers but requires extensive effort and can be difficult to access). CryoSXT currently is accessible, fully documented, can deliver 3D imaging to 25 nm resolution in a high throughput fashion, does not require laborious sample preparation procedures and can be correlated with other imaging techniques. Here, we present the current state of SXT and outline its place within the bioimaging world alongside a guided matrix that aids decision making with regards to the applicability of any given imaging technique to a particular project. Case studies where cryoSXT has facilitated a better understanding of biological processes are highlighted and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chidinma Adanna Okolo
- Beamline B24, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, U.K
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Loconte V, Chen JH, Cortese M, Ekman A, Le Gros MA, Larabell C, Bartenschlager R, Weinhardt V. Using soft X-ray tomography for rapid whole-cell quantitative imaging of SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2021; 1:100117. [PMID: 34729550 PMCID: PMC8552653 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution and rapid imaging of host cell ultrastructure can generate insights toward viral disease mechanism, for example for a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here, we employ full-rotation soft X-ray tomography (SXT) to examine organelle remodeling induced by SARS-CoV-2 at the whole-cell level with high spatial resolution and throughput. Most of the current SXT systems suffer from a restricted field of view due to use of flat sample supports and artifacts due to missing data. In this approach using cylindrical sample holders, a full-rotation tomogram of human lung epithelial cells is performed in less than 10 min. We demonstrate the potential of SXT imaging by visualizing aggregates of SARS-CoV-2 virions and virus-induced intracellular alterations. This rapid whole-cell imaging approach allows us to visualize the spatiotemporal changes of cellular organelles upon viral infection in a quantitative manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Loconte
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jian-Hua Chen
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mirko Cortese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Axel Ekman
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark A. Le Gros
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn Larabell
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg Partner Site, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Venera Weinhardt
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Barrantes FJ. The Contribution of Biophysics and Structural Biology to Current Advances in COVID-19. Annu Rev Biophys 2021; 50:493-523. [PMID: 33957057 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-102620-080956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Critical to viral infection are the multiple interactions between viral proteins and host-cell counterparts. The first such interaction is the recognition of viral envelope proteins by surface receptors that normally fulfil other physiological roles, a hijacking mechanism perfected over the course of evolution. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has successfully adopted this strategy using its spike glycoprotein to dock on the membrane-bound metalloprotease angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The crystal structures of several SARS-CoV-2 proteins alone or in complex with their receptors or other ligands were recently solved at an unprecedented pace. This accomplishment is partly due to the increasing availability of data on other coronaviruses and ACE2 over the past 18 years. Likewise, other key intervening actors and mechanisms of viral infection were elucidated with the aid of biophysical approaches. An understanding of the various structurally important motifs of the interacting partners provides key mechanistic information for the development of structure-based designer drugs able to inhibit various steps of the infective cycle, including neutralizing antibodies, small organic drugs, and vaccines. This review analyzes current progress and the outlook for future structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Barrantes
- Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED), Catholic University of Argentina (UCA)-National Scientific and Technical Research Council, Argentina (CONICET), C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina;
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8
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2019-A year in Biophysical Reviews. Biophys Rev 2019; 11:833-839. [PMID: 31741173 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-019-00607-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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The workshop on "Biophysics and Structural Biology at Synchrotrons" presented at the University of Cape Town from 16-24 January 2019. Biophys Rev 2019; 11:491-493. [PMID: 31309489 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-019-00575-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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