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Stanly TA, Fritzsche M, Banerji S, et al. Critical importance of appropriate fixation conditions for faithful imaging of receptor microclusters. Biol Open. 2016;5(9):1343-50doi: 10.1242/bio.019943.
Stanly, T. A., Fritzsche, M., Banerji, S., García, E., Bernardino de la Serna, J., Jackson, D. G., & Eggeling, C. (2016). Critical importance of appropriate fixation conditions for faithful imaging of receptor microclusters. Biology open, 5(9), 1343-50. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.019943
Stanly, Tess A, et al. "Critical importance of appropriate fixation conditions for faithful imaging of receptor microclusters." Biology open vol. 5,9 (2016): 1343-50. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.019943
Stanly TA, Fritzsche M, Banerji S, García E, Bernardino de la Serna J, Jackson DG, Eggeling C. Critical importance of appropriate fixation conditions for faithful imaging of receptor microclusters. Biol Open. 2016 Sep 15;5(9):1343-50. doi: 10.1242/bio.019943. PMID: 27464671; PMCID: PMC5051640.
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Biol Open. 2016 Sep 15;5(9):1343-50. doi: 10.1242/bio.019943.

Critical importance of appropriate fixation conditions for faithful imaging of receptor microclusters.

Biology open

Tess A Stanly, Marco Fritzsche, Suneale Banerji, Esther García, Jorge Bernardino de la Serna, David G Jackson, Christian Eggeling

Affiliations

  1. MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
  2. Wolfson Imaging Centre, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
  3. MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK Science & Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Central Laser Facility, Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell-Oxford Campus, Oxford OX11 0FA, UK.
  4. MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK [email protected] [email protected].
  5. MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK Wolfson Imaging Centre, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK [email protected] [email protected].

PMID: 27464671 PMCID: PMC5051640 DOI: 10.1242/bio.019943

Abstract

Receptor clustering is known to trigger signalling events that contribute to critical changes in cellular functions. Faithful imaging of such clusters by means of fluorescence microscopy relies on the application of adequate cell fixation methods prior to immunolabelling in order to avoid artefactual redistribution by the antibodies themselves. Previous work has highlighted the inadequacy of fixation with paraformaldehyde (PFA) alone for efficient immobilisation of membrane-associated molecules, and the advantages of fixation with PFA in combination with glutaraldehyde (GA). Using fluorescence microscopy, we here highlight how inadequate fixation can lead to the formation of artefactual clustering of receptors in lymphatic endothelial cells, focussing on the transmembrane hyaluronan receptors LYVE-1 and CD44, and the homotypic adhesion molecule CD31, each of which displays their native diffuse surface distribution pattern only when visualised with the right fixation techniques, i.e. PFA/GA in combination. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) confirms that the artefactual receptor clusters are indeed introduced by residual mobility. In contrast, we observed full immobilisation of membrane proteins in cells that were fixed and then subsequently permeabilised, irrespective of whether the fixative was PFA or PFA/GA in combination. Our study underlines the importance of choosing appropriate sample preparation protocols for preserving authentic receptor organisation in advanced fluorescence microscopy.

© 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Keywords: FRAP; Fixation; Immunolabelling; LYVE-1; Membrane receptors; Receptor clustering; Super-resolution

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing or financial interests.

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