Dataset Information

PHMA, a pH-sensitive GFP reporter for cell engulfment, in Drosophila embryos, tissues, and cells.

ABSTRACT: Engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytosis ensures the removal of unwanted and defective cells. We developed a genetically encoded marker for cell engulfment, pHMA, which consists of the pH-Sensitive derivative of GFP, pHluorin, fused to the actin-binding domain of Moesin. In healthy cells of Drosophila embryos and cultured cells, pHMA resides at the cell cortex. In dying cells, pHMA loses its cortical localization and reports a modest decrease in pH. In embryos, the dying cells lose their apical contacts, then move basally and are ultimately engulfed by neighboring cells or macrophages. The cell corpse material is strongly acidified soon after engulfment and persists in the phagocytic cell for several hours. Changes in the pHMA signal correlate well with increases or decreases in apoptosis. These data show that pHMA is a useful reporter for cell engulfment and can be used in screening for mutations that affect cell engulfment.

SUBMITTER: Fishilevich E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3070945 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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pHMA, a pH-sensitive GFP reporter for cell engulfment, in Drosophila embryos, tissues, and cells.

Fishilevich Elane E Fitzpatrick James A J JA Minden Jonathan S JS

Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 20100201 2

Engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytosis ensures the removal of unwanted and defective cells. We developed a genetically encoded marker for cell engulfment, pHMA, which consists of the pH-Sensitive derivative of GFP, pHluorin, fused to the actin-binding domain of Moesin. In healthy cells of Drosophila embryos and cultured cells, pHMA resides at the cell cortex. In dying cells, pHMA loses its cortical localization and reports a modest decrease in pH. In embryos, the dying cells lose their ap ...[more]

PMID: 20014104

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Project description:Chemically synthesized near-infrared aza-BODIPY dyes displayed off-on fluorescence at acidic pH (pKa = 6.2-6.6) through the suppression of the photoinduced electron transfer and/or internal charge transfer process. The apparent pKas of the dyes were shifted well above physiological pH in a hydrophobic microenvironment, which led to "turned-on" fluorescence in micelles and liposomes at neutral and basic pH. Bovine serum albumin also activated the fluorescence, though to a much lesser extent. When these small molecular dyes entered cells, instead of being fluorescent only in acidic organelles, the whole cytoplasm exhibited fluorescence, with a signal/background ratio as high as ?10 in no-wash live-cell imaging. The dye 1-labeled cells remained highly fluorescent even after 3 days. Moreover, slight variations of the dye structure resulted in significantly different intracellular fluorescence behaviors, possibly because of their different cellular uptake and intracellular activation capabilities. After the separation of cellular components, the fraction of plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum showed the highest fluorescence, further confirming the fluorescence activation by membrane structures. The fluorescence intensity of these dyes at different intracellular pHs (6.80 and 8.00) did not differ significantly, indicating that intracellular pH did not play a critical role. Altogether, we showed here for the first time that the fluorescence of pH-sensitive aza-BODIPY dyes was switched intracellularly not by acidic pH, but by intracellular membranes (and proteins as well). The excellent membrane permeability, ultrahigh fluorescence contrast ratio, persistent fluorescent signal, and minimal biological interference of dye 1 make it an ideal choice for live-cell imaging and in vivo cell tracking. These findings also imply that the intracellular fluorescence properties of pH-sensitive dyes should be carefully examined before they are used as pH indicators.

Dataset Information

PHMA, a pH-sensitive GFP reporter for cell engulfment, in Drosophila embryos, tissues, and cells.

Publications

pHMA, a pH-sensitive GFP reporter for cell engulfment, in Drosophila embryos, tissues, and cells.

Similar Datasets

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