Here we illustrate how single molecule photo-activated localization microscopy can be carried out on the motor nerve terminal of a live Drosophila melanogaster third instar larva.
An increasing number of super-resolution microscopy techniques are helping to uncover the mechanisms that govern the nanoscale cellular world. Single-molecule imaging is gaining momentum as it provides exceptional access to the visualization of individual molecules in living cells. Here, we describe a technique that we developed to perform single-particle tracking photo-activated localization microscopy (sptPALM) in Drosophila larvae. Synaptic communication relies on key presynaptic proteins that act by docking, priming, and promoting the fusion of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane. A range of protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions tightly regulates these processes and the presynaptic proteins therefore exhibit changes in mobility associated with each of these key events. Investigating how mobility of these proteins correlates with their physiological function in an intact live animal is essential to understanding their precise mechanism of action. Extracting protein mobility with high resolution in vivo requires overcoming limitations such as optical transparency, accessibility, and penetration depth. We describe how photoconvertible fluorescent proteins tagged to the presynaptic protein Syntaxin-1A can be visualized via slight oblique illumination and tracked at the motor nerve terminal or along the motor neuron axon of the third instar Drosophila larva.
Neuronal communication relies on neurotransmitter release, which occurs through the regulated fusion of neurotransmitter-containing synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane1. This process called exocytosis2,3,4,5,6 is highly dynamic and can be up- or down-regulated according to fluctuations in the rate of stimulation7. The proteins involved in these processes are subject to Brownian motion, and therefore display nanoscopic organization capable of sustaining a range of binding actions that underpin these physiological functions. Plasma membrane proteins are highly dynamic, allowing lateral trapping of molecules into nanoclusters on the plasma membrane7,8,9,10,11,12. As such, investigating the mobility of these proteins helps to elucidate their mode of action8. Synaptic proteins such as the soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), for example Syntaxin-1A, are now known to exhibit lateral fast mobility, as well as lateral trapping within nanoclusters that may serve as molecular depots and sites for vesicle fusion9,13,14,15.
The recent development of photoconvertible fluorescent proteins, such as monomeric (m)Eos16,17 and Kaede18, has allowed the nanoscopic resolution of neuronal plasma membrane proteins through the use of approaches such as photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM) and stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)14,15,19. These developments have enabled investigations into the mobility and nanoclustering of biological proteins in cultured live cells and neurons. More recently, studies have been carried out to elucidate (at similar high resolutions) the dynamics and organization of these membrane proteins in the neurons of live intact organisms such Mus musculus, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster14,20,21,22.
Investigating the dynamics and organization of a protein in vivo requires not only use of the recently developed super-resolution imaging tools (such as PALM, STORM, and photoconvertible fluorophores), but also the ability to overcome hindrances such as accessibility of the protein and the penetration depth of the imaging laser. Imaging intracellular proteins in an intact animal is inherently challenging as is imaging proteins on structures embedded deep within living tissues of the intact animal, such as the hippocampus of an intact mouse. Hence, proteins on or close to the surface of the tissue are more easily imaged. Another difficulty with imaging in vivo is in ensuring reproducibility across animals. As the anatomy might differ from one sample to the other, selecting a structure with ease of replication in different intact animal samples could also prove challenging. The use of stereotypical structures, such as synapses, help with overcoming some of these difficulties.
Recent studies have imaged protein mobility in animals with an optically transparent epidermis such as Caenorhabditis elegans22, while other investigations have imaged protein organization on the surface of a tissue/organ, for example actin imaging in cortical neurons through the skull of a live mouse21. In some cases, anesthetics have been used to keep the animal immobile; however, specific anesthetics may adversely affect the protein of interest. Alternative means to keep animals immobile during in vivo imaging should therefore be explored to minimize error.
Another caveat to super-resolution imaging in vivo is that the lasers used to illuminate the proteins of interest could adversely affect the surrounding tissue, and hence keeping the excitation intensity as low as possible is recommended. Illumination of the surrounding tissue by the laser also tends to increase the background signal. The use of low excitation intensity helps reduce the background, the caveat being it could also lead to a decrease in fluorescent protein photon yield. Background subtraction during analysis could be used as an alternative means to reduce the background signal prior to image analysis.
Drosophila presents an ideal organism for in vivo imaging as it provides well-established genetic tools for the investigation of specific protein function. The upstream activating sequence (UAS)-Gal4 system enables temporal and spatial expression of proteins and can therefore be used to manipulate neurotransmission23, such that thermo-genetic stimulation using Drosophila transient receptor potential sub-family A1 (dTRPA1)24 or opto-genetic stimulation using far-red-shifted CsChrimson25 can be combined with imaging14. We have overcome many of the complications of performing in vivo single-molecule imaging in this system and now describe how single-particle tracking can be carried out in Drosophila melanogaster third instar larvae.
1. Design of Transgenic Drosophila Expressing mEos2-Tagged Proteins
2. Dissection of Third Instar Larva
3. Slightly Oblique Illumination Single-Particle Tracking Microscopy
4. Single-Molecule Localization in Fixed Larvae
Using the protocol listed above, Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 transgenic Drosophilamelanogaster were generated (Figure 1). Transgenic third instar Drosophila larvae were dissected on the PDMS cylindrical base (Figure 2A-F). To visualize single molecules of Syntaxin-1A, we used PALM on a TIRF microscope with slightly oblique laser illumination14.
Single molecules of Syntaxin-1A were tracked on the presynaptic motor nerve terminals on muscle 6 of the second abdominal segment. The green fluorescence of mEos2 could be detected as shown by the low-resolution image of Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 on type 1b boutons when excited using the 488 nm laser (Figure 3A). In the imaging experiments, the 405 nm and 561 nm excitation laser imaging depths were 133.5 nm and 165.6 nm, respectively. The green image was acquired as an average of 16 individual frames. This green image was used to create the region of interest used to limit analysis of localizations in the photoconverted movie to the presynaptic motor nerve terminals alone.
The analysis of the acquired photoconverted sptPALM movies generated a super-resolved intensity, diffusion coefficient, and trajectory maps (Figure 3A). Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 mobility was further quantified by analysis of the mean square displacement (MSD) of the individual trajectories (Figure 3B). Statistical comparisons can be done using the area under the MSD curve (Figure 3B). Further analysis of mobility yields the diffusion coefficient distribution of Syntaxin-1A-mEos2, and this can be statistically evaluated by comparison of the mobile to the immobile populations (Figure 3C).
Figure 1: Generating mEos2-tagged constructs. The pFL44S-attB-MCS-w+ vector is linearized with BamHI and XbaI. Overlapping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments encoding the protein of interest (POI) and mEos2, respectively, can be cloned, for example, by in vivo recombination in ura3- yeast cells or by Gibson assembly. Note that to generate the Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 transgene, we cloned the construct flanked by the endogenous Syntaxin-1A promoter and terminator sequences. The resulting construct can subsequently be injected into Drosophila embryos to create a transgenic fly line expressing the protein of interest (POI) fused to mEos2. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2: Drosophila larva dissection and oblique illumination. (A) Schema showing Drosophila larva dissection carried out on half-cylindrical PDMS base. A filleted larva was held onto the PDMS gel by use of minutien pins. (B-C) The larva-PDMS prep was placed inside a glass-bottomed culture dish containing Schneider's insect medium. A TIRF microscope in a slightly oblique illumination configuration was used to visualize Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 in the motor nerve terminals. (D-F) A half-cylindrical PDMS base with dissected Drosophila larva. The larva-PDMS preparation was placed in an imaging dish filled with Schneider's medium, and the larva was imaged on the super-resolution PALM microscope. Scale bar, 10 mm. (This figure has been modified from14). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3: In vivo tracking of Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 at the presynaptic motor nerve terminal. (A) A low-resolution TIRF image of Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 on a type 1b motor nerve terminal. Analysis of photoconversion movies imaged at 33 Hz generated sptPALM super-resolved intensity, diffusion coefficient, and trajectory maps. 5,309 individual trajectories were imaged over 16,000 frames movie acquisition. Scale bar, 3 μm. (B-C) Mean square displacement (MSD) of Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 was plotted from 6 different motor nerve terminals; area under the MSD curve (AUC) was used to quantify the level of mobility. The diffusion coefficient distribution reveals mobile and immobile Syntaxin-1A populations that can be quantified as ratios of each other; an average of ~2,400 trajectories were obtained per motor nerve terminal (n = 3 larvae). Data presented as mean standard error of mean. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
This protocol describes single-molecule tracking of mEos2-tagged proteins at the neuromuscular junction of the Drosophila third instar larva. To avoid over-expression of transgenic protein, Syntaxin-1A-mEos2 expression was driven by endogenous Syntaxin-1A promoter. Studies of synaptic protein mobility have mostly been limited to in vitro investigations of cultured cells and cortical neurons9,11,12,13. Whether these proteins exhibit similar mobility signatures in a live animal is largely unknown. To visualize single-protein mobility in vivo, limitations such as optical transparency, accessibility, and penetration depth have to be overcome. By dissecting the larval preparation and visualizing the neuromuscular junctions embedded on the surface of the muscle, we avoid the issue of optical transparency and accessibility. Attempts to image single-molecule mobility in normal TIRF configuration proved unsuccessful. However, use of slightly oblique illumination allows for increased excitation laser penetrating depth. Furthermore, the minutien pins used to immobilize the larva helped to avoid any possible adverse effect of anesthetic use on protein mobility. It is possible to use higher magnification objectives, such as the 100x oil immersion objectives, to visualize single molecules in vivo. However, increased magnification may increase the occurance of drifts out of focus. In addition, we have used a lower intensity (~30%) 561 nm laser successfully to image single molecules at motor nerve terminals. Additional testing may be required to use lower laser power.
This protocol is suitable to visualize the mobility of synaptic proteins within the proximity of the neuronal plasma membrane. Using this approach, the mobility of the SNARE protein – Syntaxin-1A and the autophagosome bound protein Atg18a – have been successfully imaged in vivo14,26. The mobility of proteins on motor neuron axons can also be investigated27. However, investigation of the mobility of proteins on the brain or ventral nerve cord may prove difficult to assess due to the high background signal produced by the underlying tissue; in addition, visualizing protein mobility on the same brain structure will require fluorescently tagging the brain structure (to ensure replicability), and use of dual-camera imaging would be needed.
Current methods available for super-resolution microscopy in Drosophila are mostly limited to imaging embryos, rather than the more developed third instar larva38,39. The main issue with these protocols is that they yield a low number of trajectories in the area imaged, and hence prevent in-depth analysis of mobility states22,40. Our in vivo single molecule tracking protocol has the capacity to generate a high number of trajectories, and could therefore be used in other animal models such as Caenorhabiditis elegans and zebrafish. Indeed, every NMJ chain generated ~2,400 trajectories making it suitable for analyzing the different mobile states and transitions between these states14,27. Additionally, many in vivo single molecule imaging strategies rely on the use of anesthetics to immobilize the animals20,22, which might alter the physiologic function under which the imaging is done. Here we optimized an 'anesthesia-free' protocol to immobilize the larvae using minutien pins.
A potential use of this protocol may be for visualizing the mobility of proteins in three dimensions. Recent advances in super-resolution microscopy allow protein mobility to be visualized in vitro in 'x', 'y', and 'z' dimensions41,42. Our current method does not account for the mobility of proteins in the 'z' axis. Yet the Drosophila motor nerve terminal is a spherical structure and a valuable future approach will be to quantify protein mobility in a three-dimensional volume43. Imaging in the z-dimension is feasible using an astigmatic lens. Alternatively, in TIRF mode44,45, the z-resolution is also increased. However, in our experiments, we have used slightly oblique illumination to visualize single molecules of syntaxin1A-mEos2 without the astigmatic lens.
In conclusion, availability of both a transgenic Drosophila fly stock expressing proteins tagged with a photoconvertible protein, a PDMS base to dissect the transgenic larva, as well as a TIRF microscope equipped with the possibility of changing the angle of illumination are the most important tools needed to visualize single proteins as described in this protocol.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We thank Jean-Baptiste Sibarita and Daniel Choquet (IINS, CNRS/University of Bordeaux) for their kind support with the single-molecule analysis. We especially thank Nick Valmas and Jessica Mcgaw (QBI, University of Queensland) for their help with the video recording, voice-over as well as figure graphic design. This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (AR) discovery project (DP170100125 to F.A.M.), the Australian Research Council (LIEF Grant LE0882864 to F.A.M.), Future Fellowship (FT100100725 to B.V.S.), Australian Research Council (LIEF Grant LE130100078 to F.A.M.) and NHMRC Project grant (APP1103923 to B.V.S.). F.A.M. is a NHMRC Senior Research Fellow (ONT1060075).
PDMS (Sylgard 184 silicone elastomer kit) | Dow Corning Corporation | 000000000001064291 | |
Glass-bottomed Culture Dish | In Vitro Scientific | D29-20-1.5-N | |
Optical Stereo-microscope | Olympus | SZ51 | |
Curved Tweezers (Style 5/45) | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 0208-5AC-PO | |
Minutien Pins (0.1mm) | Fine Science Tools | 26002-10 | |
Schneider's Insect Medium | Sigma, Life Sciences | S0146 | |
Vannas Spring Scissors | Fine Science Tools | 15000-00 | |
Fine Forceps (Dumont #5) | Fine Science Tools | 11254-20 | |
ELYRA PS.1 Microscope | Zeiss | PS.1 | |
Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) | Lonza | 17-515Q | |
Paraformaldehyde (16%) | Electron Microscopy Sciences | 15710 | |
Triton X-100 | Sigma-Aldrich | T-9284 | |
Normal Goat Serum | Sigma-Aldrich | G9023 | |
Maxyclear snaplock microcentrifuge Tube (1.7 mL) | Axygen | MCT-175-C | |
Zen Black acquisition software | Carl Zeiss, 2012 | ||
Metamorph software | Molecular Devices | 7.7.8 | PALM Tracer Plugin |
Fly strain | w1118; HA-Sx1A-mEos2 |