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Weinhardt V, Chen JH, Ekman A, McDermott G, Le Gros MA, Larabell C. Imaging cell morphology and physiology using X-rays. Biochem Soc Trans 2019; 47:489-508. [PMID: 30952801 PMCID: PMC6716605 DOI: 10.1042/bst20180036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Morphometric measurements, such as quantifying cell shape, characterizing sub-cellular organization, and probing cell-cell interactions, are fundamental in cell biology and clinical medicine. Until quite recently, the main source of morphometric data on cells has been light- and electron-based microscope images. However, many technological advances have propelled X-ray microscopy into becoming another source of high-quality morphometric information. Here, we review the status of X-ray microscopy as a quantitative biological imaging modality. We also describe the combination of X-ray microscopy data with information from other modalities to generate polychromatic views of biological systems. For example, the amalgamation of molecular localization data, from fluorescence microscopy or spectromicroscopy, with structural information from X-ray tomography. This combination of data from the same specimen generates a more complete picture of the system than that can be obtained by a single microscopy method. Such multimodal combinations greatly enhance our understanding of biology by combining physiological and morphological data to create models that more accurately reflect the complexities of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venera Weinhardt
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, U.S.A
| | - Jian-Hua Chen
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A
| | - Axel Ekman
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A
| | - Gerry McDermott
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A
| | - Mark A Le Gros
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, U.S.A
| | - Carolyn Larabell
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, U.S.A
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