Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
09:21
Mitochondria and Endoplasmic Reticulum Imaging by Correlative Light and Volume Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 20, 2019
Vitamin E imaging and localization in the neuronal membrane.
Eric B Monroe1, John C Jurchen, Jinju Lee
1Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|September 1, 2005
Summary
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) shows increased concentration at the soma-neurite junction in neurons. This finding suggests a novel role for vitamin E in neuronal function and membrane processes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is involved in cellular signaling, transport, and lipid membrane curvature.
- Its role in neurodegenerative disorders is increasingly recognized.
- Traditional imaging methods are limited for visualizing vitamin E within cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of vitamin E within isolated neurons.
- To explore the potential role of vitamin E at specific neuronal junctions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) for high-resolution imaging.
- Analyzed the distribution of major constituents in the cellular membrane of isolated neurons.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in the vitamin E signal was observed at the soma-neurite junction.
- Vitamin E levels at the junction were 165 +/- 11% compared to the whole cell (p = 0.004, n = 12).
Conclusions:
- The specific membrane distribution of vitamin E suggests a previously unrecognized function.
- This finding highlights a potential new role for vitamin E in neuronal physiology and membrane dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Immunogold Electron Microscopy
Immunoelectron microscopy utilizes immunogold labeling of endogenous proteins with specific antibodies to detect and localize these proteins in cells and tissues. The procedure provides insights into the distribution and quantification of protein under different stimulation conditions offering clues about their functions. Conjugating highly electron-dense gold particles with primary or secondary antibodies allow antigen detection on and within cells, with high resolution and specificity.
01:15Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT)
Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT) is an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique specifically designed to detect and enhance the signals of low-abundance nuclei, such as carbon-13 and nitrogen-15, in small molecules. The fundamental principle behind INEPT is the transfer of polarization from a more abundant and highly polarizable nucleus, typically hydrogen-1, to the low-abundance nucleus of interest. This process effectively boosts the NMR signal of the...