Fluorescence Microscopy - PDF Free Download

Fluorescence Microscopy Dr. Arne Seitz Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL) Faculty of Life Sciences Head of BIOIMAGING AND OPTICS BIOP arne.seitz@epfl.ch

Fluorescence Microscopy Why do we need fluorescence microscopy Basics about fluorescence Fluorescent dyes and staining procedures Fluorescent microscopy Advanced applications

Purpose of fluorescence microscopy Cells are usually transparent and therefore study of dynamic processes is not always easily possible. Thus a staining procedure is needed.

Different staining strategies Histological stain (Absorption) like e.g H&E staining (Hematoxilin and Eosin staining) Fluorescent dyes: Sensitivity (single molecule detection is possible)

The term 'fluorescence' was coined Gabriel Stokes in his 1852 paper [1] ; the name was suggested "to denote the general appearance of a solution of sulphate of quinine and similar media". (Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 1853 143, 385-396 [quote from page 387). The name itself was derived from the mineral fluorite (calcium difluoride), some examples of which contain traces of divalent europium, which serves as the fluorescent activator to provide a blue fluorescent emission. The fluorite which provoked the observation originally, and which remains one of the most outstanding examples of the phenomenon, originated from the Weardale region, of northern England. (from Wikipedia) What is fluorescence?

The Atomic View 2 1 high energy low energy

Fluorescence energy diagram Jablonski Diagram (very simplified)

Absorbtion and Emission Spectra of Fluorophores

Excitation and emission spectra of fluorescent dyes Stokes Shifted => Scattered excitation light can be efficiently separated from fluorescence

Excitation and Emission Spectra Excitation and emission spectra are not discrete.

Excitation and Emission Spectra The profile of the emission spectra are independent of the excitation wavelength

Jablonski Diagram (simplified) 1. Excitation 10-15 s 2. Internal conversion 10-12 s 3. Solvent relaxation 10-11 s 4. Fluorescence 10-9 s 5. Intersystem crossing 10-9 s 6. Phosphorescence 10-3 s Saturation of excited state possible 5 T1 6

Bleaching Bleaching is irreversible (=fluorophore is destroyed) Bleaching is dependent on the excitation power Bleaching can also cause photodamage bleached bleached

Some Features of a Useful Fluorophore High Absoption High quantum yield High stability, little photobleaching Compatibility with biological systems (labeling efficiency)

Fluorescence Microscopy Specificity (molecules can be specifically labelled) Sensitivity (single molecule detection is possible) Fluorescence can report on the environment of the labelled molecule

Organelle Specific Fluorescent Stains

Fluorescent Stains DAPI binds DNA at AT-rich streches in the minor groove DAPI

Fluorescent Stains Mitotracker LysoSensor

Fluorophore Labeled Proteins/Antibodies

Molecules can be specifically labelled Fluorescein Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)

Molecules can be specifically labelled IgG labelled IgG IgG labelled IgG

Molecules can be specifically labelled (e.g. Immunofluorescence)

Protein of interest Production of a specific antibody Proteins can be specifically labelled Fluorescent labbeleing of the antibody Staining of cells, tissue etc. Alternative: Detection via a fluorescently labelled secondary antibody Major limitation: Targeting in live cells.

Quantum Dots conduction band Size quantization effect energy band gap Wannier exciton e - hν h + valence band Particle Size decreases Band gap increases Picture from: Chan WCW et al. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2002, 13: 40-46

Quantum dots Advantages Quantum yield Similar, slightly lower as organic dyes Absorption Lager cross-section Reduced photo-bleaching-rate ZnS-capped CdSe QDs compared with Rhodamine 6G 20 time brighter 100-200 times more stable

Sensitivity (Single Fluorophores)

Autofluorescent Proteins

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) 488 nm Aequorea victoria (Jellyfish) Chemistry Nobel price 2008 Osamu Shimomura Martin Chalfie Roger Y. Tsien

Applications of fluorescent proteins (FP) Two Most common applications of GFP variants From Chudakov et al, Trends Biotech., 2005

Protein Localization nucleus nucleolus nuclear envelope cytoplasm nucleus + cytoplasm mitochondria peroxisomes microtubules focal adhesions endoplasmic reticulum Golgi plasma membrane 10µm Dr. Arne Seitz http://gfp-cdna.embl.de/index.html

Summary Organelles and molecules can be labeled by: Organelle and protein specific fluorescent stains (e.g. Dapi). Labeling of antibodies/proteins with fluorophores. Autofluorescent proteins (e.g. GFPs). Live cell imaging: FP (Fluorescent proteins, e.g. GFP) are the method of choice to label proteins or organelles. Injection of labeled antibodies is possible. Organelle specific stains like e.g. DAPI can be toxic for the cell.

Fluorescent Microscopy Why do we need fluorescence microscopy Basics about fluorescence Fluorescent dyes and staining procedures Fluorescent microscopy Advanced applications

Fluorescence detection Excitation light (IE) Most excitation light Sample Fluorescent light (IFL) IE/IFL = 10 4 for strong fluorescence IE/IFL = 10 10 for weak fluorescence (e.g. in situ hybrid.) In order to detect the fluorescence at 10% background the excitation light must be removed or attenuated by a factor up to 10 11

Epifluorescence Sample Objective Excitation Light

Epifluorescence Sample Back-scattered excitation light: IE/100 Objective Fluorescence

Epifluorescence Sample Objective Excitation Light Dichroic mirror (passes green but reflects blue light)

Epifluorescence Sample Back-scattered excitation light IE/100 Objective Dichroic mirror (passes green but reflects blue light) Fluorescence Detector

Epifluorescence (real world) Sample Back-scattered excitation light IE/100 Objective Dichroic mirror (passes green but reflects blue light) Back-scattered excitation light IE/10,000 Back-scattered excitation light IE/10 11 Fluorescence Detector Emission filter (passes fluorescence but not back-scattered excitation light)

Typical Set-Up for Epifluorescence Sample Scattered light Objective HBO 488nm Dichroic mirror Alexa 488 Excitation Filterwheel Detector 520nm Emission Filterwheel

Set-Up for Green-Red Double Fluorescence Sample Scattered light Objective HBO 488nm Double dichroic mirror (λ1 = 505nm +λ2 = 560nm) Alexa 488 Excitation Filterwheel (Bandpass) Detector 520nm Emission Filterwheel (Bandpass)

Set-Up for Green-Red Double Fluorescence Sample Scattered light Objective HBO 550nm Double dichroic mirror Alexa 555 Excitation Filterwheel (Bandpass) Detector 590nm Emission Filterwheel (Bandpass, Longpass)

Implementation of Epifluorescence

Köhler illumination in Epifluorescence Transmission Focus on the specimen Close field diaphragm Focus condenser until field diaphragm is seen sharp Center field diaphragm Close field diaphragm up to 80 90 % Remove eyepiece, look down to the aperture diaphragm Center (if possible) aperture diaphragm Open/Close aperture diaphragm up to 80 90 % Fluorescence Focus on the specimen Swing in focusing aid (if available) Focus image of arc sharply Swing out focusing aid Close field diaphragm Center field diaphragm

Typical filter profiles Longpass Bandpass Shortpass

Typical Triple Bandpass Filter DAPI GFP TexasRed

Single Color Detection (e.g. GFP)

Single Color Detection (e.g. GFP) Use longpass filter in the emission!

Double Color Detection (e.g. GFP and TRITC)

GFP-TRITC Detection Filter Cubes GFP-detection TRITC-detection Bandpass emission filters are necessary in multicolor imaging

Triple Filter Cube

Types of filters typically used Color glass filters (cheap, limited in wavelengths) Interference filters (high flexibility in wavelengths)

Light Sources Must fit the fluorescent dyes Must fit the Detectors

Light sources Halogen lamp Continuous spectrum: depends on temperature For 3400K maximum at 900 nm Lower intensity at shorter wavelengths Very strong in IR Mercury Lamp (HBO) Most of intensity in near UV Spectrum has a line structure Lines at 313, 334, 365, 406, 435, 546, and 578 nm Xenon lamp (XBO) Even intensity across the visible spectrum Has relatively low intensity in UV Strong in IR Metal halide lamp (Hg, I, Br) Stronger intensity between lines Stable output over short period of time Lifetime up to 5 times longer

Spectrum of a mercury arc lamp Dr. Arne Seitz Ideal for excitation of GFP2, CFP and DsRed imaging but less convenient for EGFP

Spectrum of a Xenon arc lamp

Summary Epifluorescence microscopy set-up is very sensitive. Bandpass detection filters are necessary for multicolor detection. Ideal excitation light sources should fit the dyes in use.

What is special about fluorescence microscopy? Specificity (molecules can be specifically labelled) Sensitivity (single molecule detection is possible) Fluorescence can report on the environment of the labelled molecule

Electron microscopy Light microscopy Molecular dynamics, molecular interactions Organelles Cells Worm Housefly Human 1 Å 10-10 m 1 nm 10-9 m FRAP FCS LM FRET limit PALM,STORM 1 µm 10-6 m 1 mm 10-3 m 1 cm 10-2 m 1 m FRAP: Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching FCS: Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy FRET: Fluorescence resonance energy transfer

Quantum Yield Q = number of emitted versus absorbed photons Q = k f k f + k nr Lifetime τ = average time molecule spends in the excited state k= events/sec knr = k i τ = Q = 1 k f + k nr τ τ 0

Nonfluorescent relaxation can be due to: FRET k T Sensitized Emission Donor Acceptor

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Excitation Excitation Fluorescence Donor Fluorescence 1 τ D = k D k T Sensitized Emission Excitation Fluorescence Sensitized Emission Quenched Donor Fluorescence τ D ( k + k ) 1 = D T

Summary Fluorescence is dependant on the environment of the molecule. Parameters which can change due to the environment are: Intensity Fluorescence lifetime Frequency (=spectral shift) Fluorescence can be used as a reporter of the environment.

More about fluorescence microscopy 1. Lecture Biomicroscopy I + II, Prof. Theo Lasser, EPFL 2. Books a) Principle of fluorescence spectroscopy, Joseph R. Lackowicz, Springer 2 nd edition (1999) 3. Internet a) http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu b) b) Web sites of microscope manufactures Leica Nikon Olympus Zeiss 4. BIOp EPFL, SV-AI 0241, SV-AI 0140 http://biop.epfl.ch/ Dr. Arne Seitz -