Applications and advantages of laser-induced cryogenic fluorescence microscopy


Applications and advantages of laser-induced cryogenic fluorescence microscopy

Grossmann, K.; Tondera, C.; Mosch, B.; Wimmer, C.; Pietzsch, J.

Fluorescence light microscopy has many advantages for the study of cells. Specimen preparation is easy and relatively inexpensive, and the use of appropriate tags gives scientists the ability to visualize specific cells, cell organelles, proteins of interest. However, recent trends in cell analytics tends to use label free methods. In this context it is well known, that the most organic molecules are able to emit fluorescence light after an excitation with light at a characteristic wavelength. At room temperature the fluorescence is frequently minimized by different quenching effects. Some of these quenching effects are strongly influenced by the temperature of the specimen. Normal temperature dependence of fluorescence shows an increasing fluorescence intensity and lifetime when the temperature is lowered.
For label free fluorescence analytics we developed a combined system for laser induced fluorescence spectroscopic and microscopic measurements at temperatures down to 20 K. The system consists of a confocal laser scanning microscope, a very sensitive detector including spectrograph and CCD, and a special cryogenic measuring cell. The cell is characterized by a closed cycle Gifford McMahon-based cryostat and a device for active insulation of cryostat-based vibrations. The design of the measuring cell is constructed for easily adapting on common light microscopes without time consuming reconstructions. Currently microscopic measurements with an up to 630-fold magnification are possible. The use of the novel technique was evaluated in two representative applications. First experiments demonstrate an increment in the intensity of the fluorescence spectrum of different uranium VI species in biological samples by decreasing the temperature down to 20 K. Some of these uranium species show no detectable fluorescence at room temperature (RT), however, at 20 K a characteristic spectrum of uranium was visible. Comparable results show experiments on lactate, citrate, pyruvate and glucose. Second, continuative microscopic experiments in melanoma cell lines demonstrate improved sensitivity in detection of fluorescent dyes at cryogenic conditions. In this regard, DAPI and other fluorescence dyes could be detected in a melanotic mouse melanoma cell line with 100-fold increased sensitivity at 20 K compared to RT. As an additional benefit a lower photobleaching was observed at 20 K compared to RT. Furthermore, the use of laser-induced cryogenic fluorescence microscopy allowed visualization of COX-2 protein expression in amelanotic human melanoma cells using a novel, autofluorescent selective COX-2 inhibitor. The compound did not require additional chemical modification, e.g., by coupling fluorophor substituents. These results show that the new cryogenic measuring chamber represents an interesting and gainful tool for fluorescence based investigations.

Keywords: cryogenic; fluorescence microscopy

  • Invited lecture (Conferences)
    22nd annual conference of the german society for cytometry, 10.-12.10.2012, Bonn, Deutschland

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Publ.-Id: 17982