Pei-Hua Chung

Fluorescence Anisotropy of Molecular Rotors

We present polarization-resolved fluorescence measurements of fluorescent molecular rotors 9-(2-carboxy-2-cyanovinyl)julolidine (CCVJ), 9-(2,2-dicyanovinyl)julolidine (DCVJ), and a meso-substituted boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY-C(12)). The photophysical properties of these molecules are highly dependent on the viscosity of the surrounding solvent. The relationship between their quantum yields and the viscosity of the surrounding medium is given by an equation first described and presented by Förster and Hoffmann and can be used to determine the microviscosity of the environment around a fluorophore. Herein we evaluate the applicability of molecular rotors as probes of apparent viscosity on a microscopic scale based on their viscosity dependent fluorescence depolarization. We develop a theoretical framework, combining the Förster-Hoffmann equation with the Perrin equation and compare the dynamic ranges and usable working regimes for these dyes in terms of utilising fluorescence anisotropy as a measure of viscosity. We present polarization-resolved fluorescence spectra and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy imaging data for measurements of intracellular viscosity. We find that the dynamic range for fluorescence anisotropy for CCVJ and DCVJ is significantly lower than that of BODIPY-C(12) in the viscosity range 0.6<η<600 cP. Moreover, using steady-state anisotropy measurements to probe microviscosity in the low (<3 cP) viscosity regime, the molecular rotors can offer a better dynamic range in anisotropy compared with a rigid dye as a probe of microviscosity, and a higher total working dynamic range in terms of viscosity.

Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy imaging.

Fluorescence can be characterized by its intensity, position, wavelength, lifetime, and polarization. The more of these features are acquired in a single measurement, the more can be learned about the sample, i.e., the microenvironment of the fluorescence probe. Polarization-resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging-time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy imaging, TR-FAIM-allows mapping of viscosity or binding or of homo-FRET which can indicate dimerization or generally oligomerization.

Simultaneous FRAP, FLIM and FAIM for measurements of protein mobility and interaction in living cells

We present a novel integrated multimodal fluorescence microscopy technique for simultaneous fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and fluorescence anisotropy imaging (FAIM). This approach captures a series of polarization-resolved fluorescence lifetime images during a FRAP recovery, maximizing the information available from a limited photon budget. We have applied this method to analyse the behaviour of GFP-labelled coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) in living human epithelial cells. Our data reveal that CAR exists in oligomeric states throughout the cell, and that these complexes occur in conjunction with high immobile fractions of the receptor at cell-cell junctions. These findings shed light on previously unknown molecular associations between CAR receptors in intact cells and demonstrate the power of combined FRAP, FLIM and FAIM microscopy as a robust method to analyse complex multi-component dynamics in living cells.

Simultaneous measurements of fluorescence lifetimes, anisotropy, and FRAP recovery curves

We present fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) and fluorescence anisotropy imaging along with translational diffusion measurements of living cells labelled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) recorded in a single experiment. The experimental set-up allows for time and polarization-resolved fluorescence images to be measured in every frame of a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) series. We have validated the method using rhodamine 123 in homogeneous solution prior to measurements of living A431 cells labelled with cdc42-GFP, for which the FRAP recovery exhibits an immobile fraction and the rotational mobility of the protein is hindered while the fluorescence lifetime fairly homogeneous across the cell. By eliminating the need for sequential measurements to extract fluorescence lifetimes and molecular diffusion coefficients we remove artefacts arising from changes in sample morphology and excessive photobleaching during sequential experiments.

Spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging of Nile red for measurements of intracellular polarity

Abstract. Spectrally resolved confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging have been used to measure the polarity of lipid-rich regions in living HeLa cells stained with Nile red. The emission peak from the solvatochromic dye in lipid droplets is at a shorter wavelength than other, more polar, stained internal membranes, and this is indicative of a low polarity environment. We estimate that the dielectric constant, ϵ, is around 5 in lipid droplets and 25<ϵ<40 in other lipid-rich regions. Our spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) data show that intracellular Nile red exhibits complex, multiexponential fluorescence decays due to emission from a short lifetime locally excited state and a longer lifetime intramolecular charge transfer state. We measure an increase in the average fluorescence lifetime of the dye with increasing emission wavelength, as shown using phasor plots of the FLIM data. We also show using these phasor plots that the shortest lifetime decay components arise from lipid droplets. Thus, fluorescence lifetime is a viable contrast parameter for distinguishing lipid droplets from other stained lipid-rich regions. Finally, we discuss the FLIM of Nile red as a method for simultaneously mapping both polarity and relative viscosity based on fluorescence lifetime measurements.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging of molecular rotors to map microviscosity in cells (Invited Paper)

Fluorescence liftime imaging (FLIM) of modified hydrophobic bodipy dyes that act as fluorescent molecular rotors shows that the fluorescence lifetime of these probes is a function of the microviscosity of their environment. Incubating cells with these dyes, we find a punctate and continuous distribution of the dye in cells. The viscosity value obtained in what appears to be endocytotic vesicles in living cells is around 100 times higher than that of water and of cellular cytoplasm.Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements also yield rotational correlation times consistent with large microviscosity values. In this way, we successfully develop a practical and versatile approach to map the microviscosity in cells based on imaging fluorescent molecular rotors.

Determining a fluorophore's transition dipole moment from fluorescence lifetime measurements in solvents of varying refractive index.

The transition dipole moment of organic dyes PM546 and rhodamine 123 is calculated from fluorescence lifetime measurements in solutions of different refractive index. A model proposed by Toptygin et al (2002 J. Phys. Chem. B 106 3724-34) provides a relationship between the radiative rate constant and refractive index of the solvent, and allows the electronic transition dipole moments to be found: it is (7.1  ±  1.1) D for PM546 which matches that found in the literature, and (8.1  ±  0.1) D for rhodamine 123. Toptygins model goes further in predicting the shape of the fluorescent dye and here we predict the shape of PM546 and rhodamine 123 to be ellipsoidal.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM): Basic Concepts and Recent Applications

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is a key fluorescence microscopy technique to map the environment and interaction of fluorescent probes. It can report on photo physical events that are difficult or impossible to observe by fluorescence intensity imaging, because FLIM is independent of the local fluorophore concentration and excitation intensity. A FLIM application relevant for biology concerns the identification of FRET to study protein interactions and conformational changes, and FLIM can also be used to image viscosity, temperature, pH, refractive index and ion and oxygen concentrations, all at the cellular or sub-cellular level, as well as autofluorescence. The basic principles and some recent advances in the application of FLIM, FLIM instrumentation and molecular probe development will be discussed.

Chapter 7.2:Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging applied to Microviscosity Mapping and Fluorescence Modification Studies in Cells

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is a key optical technique for imaging the photophysical environment of fluorescent probes in vivo. In addition, it also provides information in fluorescence enhancement studies that intensity imaging alone could not provide. We review the principles and recent advances in the application of the techniques, instrumentation and molecular probe development.

Mapping intracellular viscosity by advanced fluorescence imaging of molecular rotors in living cells

Meso-substituted boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY-C12) was used to monitor the viscosity in cells via fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements. Our results show that meso-substituted BODIPY-C12 senses the viscosity in HeLa cells and is insensitive to the surrounding polarity. The relationship between the fluorescence lifetime and the rotational correlation time of the dye in homogeneous solutions agree with the combination of the Foerster Hoffmann equation and the Debye-Stokes-Einstein equation.