Multiple frequency fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. 2000

A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
Cell Biophysics Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, U.K.

The experimental configuration and the computational algorithms for performing multiple frequency fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (mfFLIM) are described. The mfFLIM experimental set-up enables the simultaneous homodyne detection of fluorescence emission modulated at a set of harmonic frequencies. This was achieved in practice by using monochromatic laser light as an excitation source modulated at a harmonic set of frequencies. A minimum of four frequencies were obtained by the use of two standing wave acousto-optic modulators placed in series. Homodyne detection at each of these frequencies was performed simultaneously by mixing with matching harmonics present in the gain characteristics of a microchannel plate (MCP) image intensifier. These harmonics arise as a natural consequence of applying a high frequency sinusoidal voltage to the photocathode of the device, which switches the flow of photoelectrons 'on' and 'off' as the sinus voltage swings from negative to positive. By changing the bias of the sinus it was possible to control the duration of the 'on' state of the intensifier relative to its 'off' state, enabling the amplitude of the higher harmonic content in the gain to be controlled. Relative modulation depths of 400% are theoretically possible from this form of square-pulse modulation. A phase-dependent integrated image is formed by the sum of the mixed frequencies on the phosphor of the MCP. Sampling this signal over a full period of the fundamental harmonic enables each harmonic to be resolved, provided that the Nyquist sampling criterion is satisfied for the highest harmonic component in the signal. At each frequency both the phase and modulation parameters can be estimated from a Fourier analysis of the data. These parameters enable the fractional populations and fluorescence lifetimes of individual components of a complex fluorescence decay to be resolved on a pixel-by-pixel basis using a non-linear fit to the dispersion relationships. The fitting algorithms were tested on a simulated data set and were successful in disentangling two populations having 1 ns and 4 ns fluorescence lifetimes. Spatial invariance of the lifetimes was exploited to improve the accuracy significantly. Multiple frequency fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy was then successfully applied to resolve the fluorescence lifetimes and fluorescence intensity contributions in a rhodamine dye mixture in solution, and green fluorescent protein variants co-expressed in live cells.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007202 Indicators and Reagents Substances used for the detection, identification, analysis, etc. of chemical, biological, or pathologic processes or conditions. Indicators are substances that change in physical appearance, e.g., color, at or approaching the endpoint of a chemical titration, e.g., on the passage between acidity and alkalinity. Reagents are substances used for the detection or determination of another substance by chemical or microscopical means, especially analysis. Types of reagents are precipitants, solvents, oxidizers, reducers, fluxes, and colorimetric reagents. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed, p301, p499) Indicator,Reagent,Reagents,Indicators,Reagents and Indicators
D008164 Luminescent Proteins Proteins which are involved in the phenomenon of light emission in living systems. Included are the "enzymatic" and "non-enzymatic" types of system with or without the presence of oxygen or co-factors. Bioluminescent Protein,Bioluminescent Proteins,Luminescent Protein,Photoprotein,Photoproteins,Protein, Bioluminescent,Protein, Luminescent,Proteins, Bioluminescent,Proteins, Luminescent
D008856 Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy of specimens stained with fluorescent dye (usually fluorescein isothiocyanate) or of naturally fluorescent materials, which emit light when exposed to ultraviolet or blue light. Immunofluorescence microscopy utilizes antibodies that are labeled with fluorescent dye. Fluorescence Microscopy,Immunofluorescence Microscopy,Microscopy, Immunofluorescence,Fluorescence Microscopies,Immunofluorescence Microscopies,Microscopies, Fluorescence,Microscopies, Immunofluorescence
D005453 Fluorescence The property of emitting radiation while being irradiated. The radiation emitted is usually of longer wavelength than that incident or absorbed, e.g., a substance can be irradiated with invisible radiation and emit visible light. X-ray fluorescence is used in diagnosis.
D005583 Fourier Analysis Analysis based on the mathematical function first formulated by Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Fourier in 1807. The function, known as the Fourier transform, describes the sinusoidal pattern of any fluctuating pattern in the physical world in terms of its amplitude and its phase. It has broad applications in biomedicine, e.g., analysis of the x-ray crystallography data pivotal in identifying the double helical nature of DNA and in analysis of other molecules, including viruses, and the modified back-projection algorithm universally used in computerized tomography imaging, etc. (From Segen, The Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992) Fourier Series,Fourier Transform,Analysis, Cyclic,Analysis, Fourier,Cyclic Analysis,Analyses, Cyclic,Cyclic Analyses,Series, Fourier,Transform, Fourier
D006367 HeLa Cells The first continuously cultured human malignant CELL LINE, derived from the cervical carcinoma of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are used for, among other things, VIRUS CULTIVATION and PRECLINICAL DRUG EVALUATION assays. Cell, HeLa,Cells, HeLa,HeLa Cell
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012235 Rhodamines A family of 3,6-di(substituted-amino)-9-benzoate derivatives of xanthene that are used as dyes and as indicators for various metals; also used as fluorescent tracers in histochemistry. Rhodamine
D049452 Green Fluorescent Proteins Protein analogs and derivatives of the Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein that emit light (FLUORESCENCE) when excited with ULTRAVIOLET RAYS. They are used in REPORTER GENES in doing GENETIC TECHNIQUES. Numerous mutants have been made to emit other colors or be sensitive to pH. Green Fluorescent Protein,Green-Fluorescent Protein,Green-Fluorescent Proteins,Fluorescent Protein, Green,Fluorescent Proteins, Green,Protein, Green Fluorescent,Protein, Green-Fluorescent,Proteins, Green Fluorescent,Proteins, Green-Fluorescent

Related Publications

A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
September 2016, Optics express,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
January 2007, Methods in cell biology,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
December 2004, Current protocols in cell biology,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
October 2015, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
January 2005, Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
January 2003, Methods in cell biology,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
January 1998, Methods in cell biology,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
January 2006, Methods in enzymology,
A Squire, and P J Verveer, and P I Bastiaens
January 2006, Nephron. Experimental nephrology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!