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A 3D Cartographic Description of the Cell by Cryo Soft X-ray Tomography
Published on: March 15, 2021
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Visualizing subcellular rearrangements in intact β cells using soft x-ray tomography.
Kate L White1,2, Jitin Singla3,4, Valentina Loconte5
1Department of Biological Sciences, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. stevens@usc.edu calarabell@lbl.gov sali@salilab.org katewhit@usc.edu.
Science Advances
|December 10, 2020
Summary
Soft x-ray tomography reveals dynamic changes in pancreatic beta cells during insulin secretion. Glucose stimulation alters insulin vesicle distribution, mitochondrial volume, and vesicle-mitochondria proximity, offering new insights into cellular function.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Understanding cell structure-function relationships requires mesoscale mapping of intact cells.
- Current imaging techniques have limitations in visualizing subcellular rearrangements post-stimulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply soft x-ray tomography for 3D reconstruction of pancreatic beta cells.
- To investigate structural changes during glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
Main Methods:
- Soft x-ray tomography was used to generate 3D reconstructions of pancreatic beta cells.
- Cells were analyzed at various time points after glucose stimulation.
Main Results:
- Glucose stimulation altered insulin vesicle distribution and pool sizes within the secretory pathway.
- Observed rapid changes in insulin packing, increased mitochondrial volume, and closer vesicle-mitochondria proximity.
- Exendin-4 costimulation prolonged these effects and enhanced insulin packaging and vesicle maturation.
Conclusions:
- Soft x-ray tomography provides novel insights into pancreatic beta cell structural dynamics.
- Coordinated organelle reorganization dictates cellular responses to stimulation.
- Findings illuminate the mechanisms of insulin secretion and potential therapeutic targets.
