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Mocaer K, Mizzon G, Gunkel M, Halavatyi A, Steyer A, Oorschot V, Schorb M, Le Kieffre C, Yee DP, Chevalier F, Gallet B, Decelle J, Schwab Y, Ronchi P. Targeted volume correlative light and electron microscopy of an environmental marine microorganism. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:jcs261355. [PMID: 37455654 PMCID: PMC10445747 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic microalgae are responsible for an important fraction of CO2 fixation and O2 production on Earth. Three-dimensional (3D) ultrastructural characterization of these organisms in their natural environment can contribute to a deeper understanding of their cell biology. However, the low throughput of volume electron microscopy (vEM) methods along with the complexity and heterogeneity of environmental samples pose great technical challenges. In the present study, we used a workflow based on a specific electron microscopy sample preparation method compatible with both light and vEM imaging in order to target one cell among a complex natural community. This method revealed the 3D subcellular landscape of a photosynthetic dinoflagellate, which we identified as Ensiculifera tyrrhenica, with quantitative characterization of multiple organelles. We show that this cell contains a single convoluted chloroplast and show the arrangement of the flagellar apparatus with its associated photosensitive elements. Moreover, we observed partial chromatin unfolding, potentially associated with transcription activity in these organisms, in which chromosomes are permanently condensed. Together with providing insights in dinoflagellate biology, this proof-of-principle study illustrates an efficient tool for the targeted ultrastructural analysis of environmental microorganisms in heterogeneous mixes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Mocaer
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Collaboration for joint PhD degree between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giulia Mizzon
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, CIID, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg partner site, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Gunkel
- Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aliaksandr Halavatyi
- Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Steyer
- EMBL Imaging Centre, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Viola Oorschot
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Schorb
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Daniel P. Yee
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAe, IRIG-LPCV, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Fabien Chevalier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAe, IRIG-LPCV, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Benoit Gallet
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Johan Decelle
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAe, IRIG-LPCV, 38054 Grenoble, France
| | - Yannick Schwab
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paolo Ronchi
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Merchant-Larios H, Giraldo-Gomez DM, Castro-Dominguez A, Marmolejo-Valencia A. Light and focused ion beam microscopy workflow for resin-embedded tissues. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1076736. [PMID: 36760366 PMCID: PMC9905623 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1076736] [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: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the automated image acquisition with the focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) provides volume reconstructions, volume analysis of large samples remains challenging. Here, we present a workflow that combines a modified sample protocol of the classical transmission electron microscope with FIB-SEM volume imaging. The proposed workflow enables efficient 3D structural surveys of rabbit ovaries collected at consecutive developmental stages. The precise trimming of the region of interest adds the time dimension to the volume, constructing a virtual 4D electron microscopy. We found filopodia-like processes emitted by oocyte cysts allowing contact between oocytes not previously observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Horacio Merchant-Larios
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, México,*Correspondence: Horacio Merchant-Larios,
| | - David M. Giraldo-Gomez
- Carl Zeiss de México S. A. de C. V., Research Microscopy Solutions, , México City, Mexico
| | - Adriana Castro-Dominguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, México
| | - Alejandro Marmolejo-Valencia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), México City, México
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Peddie CJ, Genoud C, Kreshuk A, Meechan K, Micheva KD, Narayan K, Pape C, Parton RG, Schieber NL, Schwab Y, Titze B, Verkade P, Aubrey A, Collinson LM. Volume electron microscopy. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:51. [PMID: 37409324 PMCID: PMC7614724 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00131-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Life exists in three dimensions, but until the turn of the century most electron microscopy methods provided only 2D image data. Recently, electron microscopy techniques capable of delving deep into the structure of cells and tissues have emerged, collectively called volume electron microscopy (vEM). Developments in vEM have been dubbed a quiet revolution as the field evolved from established transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques, so early publications largely focused on the bioscience applications rather than the underlying technological breakthroughs. However, with an explosion in the uptake of vEM across the biosciences and fast-paced advances in volume, resolution, throughput and ease of use, it is timely to introduce the field to new audiences. In this Primer, we introduce the different vEM imaging modalities, the specialized sample processing and image analysis pipelines that accompany each modality and the types of information revealed in the data. We showcase key applications in the biosciences where vEM has helped make breakthrough discoveries and consider limitations and future directions. We aim to show new users how vEM can support discovery science in their own research fields and inspire broader uptake of the technology, finally allowing its full adoption into mainstream biological imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Peddie
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Christel Genoud
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Kreshuk
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kimberly Meechan
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina D. Micheva
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kedar Narayan
- Center for Molecular Microscopy, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Constantin Pape
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert G. Parton
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole L. Schieber
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yannick Schwab
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit/ Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Paul Verkade
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Aubrey Aubrey
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Lucy M. Collinson
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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Horvitz D, Milrot E, Luria N, Makdasi E, Beth-Din A, Glinert I, Dombrovsky A, Laskar O. Nanodissection of Selected Viral Particles by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy/Focused Ion Beam for Genetic Identification. Anal Chem 2021; 93:13126-13133. [PMID: 34551252 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c01001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study presents the development of a new correlative workflow to bridge the gap between electron microscopy imaging and genetic analysis of viruses. The workflow enables the assignment of genetic information to a specific biological entity by harnessing the nanodissection capability of focused ion beam (FIB). This correlative workflow is based on scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and FIB followed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For this purpose, we studied the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) and the adenovirus that have significant impacts on plant integrity and human health, respectively. STEM imaging was used for the identification and localization of virus particles on a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid followed by FIB milling of the desired region of interest. The final-milled product was subjected to genetic analysis by the PCR. The results prove that the FIB-milling process maintains the integrity of the genetic material as confirmed by the PCR. We demonstrate the identification of RNA and DNA viruses extracted from a few micrometers of an FIB-milled TEM grid. This workflow enables the genetic analysis of specifically imaged viral particles directly from heterogeneous clinical samples. In addition to viral diagnostics, the ability to isolate and to genetically identify specific submicrometer structures may prove valuable in additional fields, including subcellular organelle and granule research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dror Horvitz
- Electron Microscopy, Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., HaYarden 1 street, Airport City 7019900, Israel
| | - Elad Milrot
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O.B 19, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel
| | - Neta Luria
- Department of Plant Pathology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 50250, Israel
| | - Efi Makdasi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O.B 19, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel
| | - Adi Beth-Din
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O.B 19, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel
| | - Itai Glinert
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O.B 19, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel
| | - Aviv Dombrovsky
- Department of Plant Pathology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 50250, Israel
| | - Orly Laskar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O.B 19, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel
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Ronchi P, Mizzon G, Machado P, D’Imprima E, Best BT, Cassella L, Schnorrenberg S, Montero MG, Jechlinger M, Ephrussi A, Leptin M, Mahamid J, Schwab Y. High-precision targeting workflow for volume electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:e202104069. [PMID: 34160561 PMCID: PMC8225610 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202104069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are 3D objects. Therefore, volume EM (vEM) is often crucial for correct interpretation of ultrastructural data. Today, scanning EM (SEM) methods such as focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM are frequently used for vEM analyses. While they allow automated data acquisition, precise targeting of volumes of interest within a large sample remains challenging. Here, we provide a workflow to target FIB-SEM acquisition of fluorescently labeled cells or subcellular structures with micrometer precision. The strategy relies on fluorescence preservation during sample preparation and targeted trimming guided by confocal maps of the fluorescence signal in the resin block. Laser branding is used to create landmarks on the block surface to position the FIB-SEM acquisition. Using this method, we acquired volumes of specific single cells within large tissues such as 3D cultures of mouse mammary gland organoids, tracheal terminal cells in Drosophila melanogaster larvae, and ovarian follicular cells in adult Drosophila, discovering ultrastructural details that could not be appreciated before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ronchi
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giulia Mizzon
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pedro Machado
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edoardo D’Imprima
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Benedikt T. Best
- Directors’ Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lucia Cassella
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schnorrenberg
- Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marta G. Montero
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Jechlinger
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Ephrussi
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Leptin
- Directors’ Research, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Mahamid
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yannick Schwab
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
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Abstract
Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) combines the strengths of light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) to pin-point and visualize cellular or macromolecular structures. However, there are many different imaging modalities that can be combined in a CLEM workflow, creating a vast number of combinations that can overwhelm new-comers to the field. Here, we offer a conceptual framework to help guide the decision-making process for choosing the CLEM workflow that can best address your research question, based on the answer to five questions.
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