The attachment of virions to a surface is a requirement for single virion imaging by Super-resolution fluorescence imaging or atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here we demonstrate a sample preparation method for controlled adhesion of virions to glass surfaces suitable for use in AFM and super-resolution fluorescence imaging.
Immobilization of virions to glass surfaces is a critical step in single virion imaging. Here we present a technique adopted from single molecule imaging assays which allows adhesion of single virions to glass surfaces with specificity. This preparation is based on grafting the surface of the glass with a mixture of PLL-g-PEG and PLL-g-PEG-Biotin, adding a layer of avidin, and finally creating virion anchors through attachment of biotinylated virus specific antibodies. We have applied this technique across a range of experiments including atomic force microscopy (AFM) and super-resolution fluorescence imaging. This sample preparation method results in a control adhesion of the virions to the surface.
Charge based nonspecific interactions are routinely used for adhesion of virions in atomic force microscopy1,2. These techniques especially work well when used on nonenveloped virions with very stiff capsids3-6. Although these techniques are very effective in immobilizing the sample, they do not prevent nonspecific binding of proteins to the surface. The nonspecific binding can create a problem when attempting to image virions with AFM and super-resolution fluorescence techniques that require incubations of the sample with various antibodies. Here we outline a sample preparation method for specific immobilization of virions.
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafted to poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and adsorbed onto a glass surface provides a significant block for the electrostatic interactions of proteins with glass7. Single molecule assays which require immobilization of single molecules on glass surfaces have taken advantage of this property and used it to create a specific PEG based single molecule immobilization technique8-10. This preparation was also used to immobilize clathrin cages onto the glass surface11 as well as creating a homogenous fibronectin coating for control cell adhesion 12.
We have adopted the sample preparation method based on PLL-g-PEG adsorption to glass surfaces from single molecule imaging methodologies and applied it to imaging single virions of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). These single virions were imaged using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Similar experiments were also performed on functionalized beads as a control. The virions were also imaged by super-resolution fluorescence microscopy were a VSV-G antibody labeled with Alexa 647 was used to create an image of the envelope of single virions. High resolution fluorescent imaging utilizes localization of single molecules to create an image13-15. fPALM bi-planar imaging allows localization of single molecules with 20 nm in plane and 50 nm resolution along the optical axis15,16. This bi-planar technique was used to image super-resolution fluorescent images present in this study. An alternative technique which has similar results is STORM13,17,18.
Both AFM and super-resolution fluorescent images of VSV anchored to the glass by the procedures outlined in this paper, showed specific binding of virions to the glass with minimum nonspecific interactions19. Here we present the sample preparation protocols for the AFM and super-resolution fluorescent imaging experiments. In brief: Clean glass coverslips are functionalized by adsorbing a mixture of PLL-g-PEG and PLL-g-PEG-biotin. It is typical for this thin film to be engineered to provide between 15-25% functionalized biotin on a coated surface. The coverslips are further incubated with tetrameric avidin. A biotinylated viral antibody is then used to create a unique binding site for the virions. Binding of the antibody can be done in two ways.
The first method is optimized for AFM however it remains suitable for super-resolution fluorescence imaging. In this method the avidin coated surface is treated with biotinylated antibody prior to viral adhesion. The immobilized virions are treated with Alexa 647 labeled antibody to cover the envelope and allow super-resolution fluorescence imaging of the virions.
The second method is to attack the virus in solution with the biotinylated antibody and Alexa 647 labeled antibody prior to adhering the viruses to the avidin treated surface; this method is optimized for super-resolution fluorescence imaging experiments in which recovery of the viral envelope is important. This method has the advantage of allowing uniform antibody coating on the viral surface. The biotinylated antibody may be mixed with Alexa 647 labeled viral antibodies in ratios that allow for sufficient adsorption of the virus to the avidin treated surface while maintaining a high concentration of fluorescent label on the exterior of the viral envelope. These Alexa 647 labeled viral antibodies are not biotinylated and their excess may be rinsed away in order to reduce background noise.
1. Chemistry Preparation
2. Coverslip Cleaning in Preparation for Chemical Treatment
3. Formation of the PLL-g-PEG Thin Film Layer
4. Avidin Binding Enhancement
IMPORTANT NOTE: There are two distinct methods for completing sample preparation depending on the type of assay the experiment entails. The experimenter should proceed with stage 5A in which the virus is anchored to the glass before any additional antibody treatment required for super-resolution imaging is added. 5B describes an alternative method of labeling the virus in solution before anchoring it to the glass. The representative data in this manuscript is prepared using 5A. An appropriate method should be selected according to experimental assay type.
5A. Active Face Antibody Tether
5B. In Solution Antibody Attack
This method is an optional enhancement of the labeling strategy for the super-resolution fluorescent imaging. By applying the in solution attack, better antibody coating on the viral surface can be achieved.
6. Atomic Force Microscopy Material Property Measurement
7. Super-resolution Imaging Method
Single virion imaging using AFM:
The sample preparation protocol outlined above was used in anchoring wild type virions to the glass surface. VSV virions are bullet shaped 180 nm in length and 80 nm in diameter. As there are a variety of virions for which this technique may be applied, the concept is also demonstrated here on biotinylated 36 nm beads as well. The resulting AFM experiments are shown in Figure 1. It is important to note that the VSV virions have a lower Young's modulus (100 MPa) compared to the nonenveloped viruses (GPa). The particular images of single virion VSV were obtained under tapping mode in ambient conditions with a stiff cantilever. The aim has been to deform the virus to the point that the extra protein density within the virus becomes visible as a bump within the AFM image. This method is used to detect the extra protein density within the virus cavity19.
Single virion super resolution imaging:
Alexa 647 labeled VSV-G antibodies were used to coat the envelope of individual VSV virions for super-resolution experiments using method 5A. To demonstrate the tethering density and the low unspecific binding, a large scan of the sample is shown in Figure 2A. The recovery of the viral envelope on a representative virion is shown in Figure 2B (blue isosurface).
Figure 1. AFM imaging of beads and VSV on the functionalized PEGG surface. AFM scan of 36 nm biotinylated beads (A, B) and a VSV virion (C) anchored to the surface with a biotinylated VSVG antibody. AFM was done in AC air topography scan mode. The tip radius is <25 nm and measurements were carried out under force modulation and light tapping. The tip had a force constant of 3 N/m and resonant frequency 75 kHz with uncertainty of 15 kHz. While the beads retained their height during the AFM scan, the VSV virion has a significantly smaller young’s modulus and is significantly deformed in height. In this image the virion was specifically imaged with a stiff cantilever in tapping mode which produced a small xy convolution (used to determine the tip vs blunt end of the virus) and the height difference between the tip and blunt end of the virus is used to detect extra protein density at the blunt end of the virus19.
Figure 2. Fluorescence based imaging of VSV virions on the PEGG functionalized surface. A) recombinant VSV virions immobilized on the PEGG surface using a biotinylated anti VSVG antibody imaged in wide field fluorescence. B) High resolution fluorescence reconstruction of the envelope of VSV attached to the PEGG surface through a biotinylated anti VSVG antibody and decorated with Alexa 647 labeled anti-VSVG antibodies (Method 5A was used for creating these images). The blue surface is a 2D isosurface projection. Left shows a model of the bullet shaped virus.
Coverslip Size | Fluid |
40 mm | 65 µl |
35 mm | 50 µl |
30 mm | 36 µl |
25 mm | 25 µl |
20 mm | 16 µl |
Table 1. Fluid aliquots according to coverslip size.
Single virion imaging with AFM and High-resolution fluorescence imaging can be used as an alternative methodology to CryoEM tomography. Each one of these methodologies has their specific strengths. For example AFM can be done on WT virions with no requirement on tagging the sample or the internal viral proteins. The location of viral structures is deconvolved from their contributions to the elastic properties of the virion.
Single virion super-resolution imaging in combination with the newly developed viral reverse genetic approaches becomes a powerful technique for localizing low copy number viral proteins20. Recombinant viruses with replacement of their proteins with proteins fused to fluorescent proteins can be made and purified using these reverse genetic approaches. Although super-resolution imaging has specificity in part due to the genetic tagging, it requires the use of the mutant viruses.
AFM and super-resolution imaging are complimentary methods that utilize very similar sample preparations. The methods outlined in this paper, which are adopted form earlier single molecule imaging assays, allow anchoring of single virions with little effects on the topology of the virions.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We thank Dr. Till Böcking for the original single molecule preparation protocol. This work was supported by NSF grant 1121972(SS).
Glass coverslips (fPALM) | Electron Microscopy Services | 72225-01 | 25 mm Coverslips |
PLL(20)-g[3.5]-PEG(2)/PEG(3.4)-Biotin (20%) | SuSoS | – | Stock: 0.5 mg/ml in PBS |
NeutrAvidin biotin-binding protein | Invitrogen | A2666 | Stock: 0.25 mg/ml in PBS |
Alexa Fluor 647 goat anti-rabbit IgG (H+L) | Invitrogen | A21245 | 1:200 in 0.2 M KPO4, 0.15 M NaCl, 10% Glycol, pH 7.2 buffer |
α-VSV-G | Invitrogen | ab34774 | 1:200 in 0.2 M KPO4, 0.15 M NaCl, 10% Glycol, pH 7.2 buffer |
Gluox | Sigma | G2133-250KU | Glucose oxidase type seven from Aspergillius |
Catalase | Sigma | C40-100mg | Catalase from Bovine liver |
MEA | Sigma | 30070-10G | Cysteamine (MEA |
Stock Buffer | 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) + 10 mM NaCl + 10% glucose | ||
NTE | 10 mM Tris pH 7.4, 100 mM NaCl, 66 mM EDTA | ||
Slide-A-Lyzer, mini dialysis unit | Thermo Scientific | 10,000 MW | |
Microscope Cover Glass: 35 CIRCLE #1 | Fisherbrand | 35 CIRCLE #1 |