Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy for the Visualization of Interactions between Mitochondria and Lipid Droplets

Abstract

Visualizing the dynamics of fine structures in cells requires noninvasive, long-duration imaging of the intracellular environment at high spatiotemporal resolution and low background noise. With modularized hardware and polarized laser modulation, we developed a nanoscale super-resolution structured illumination microscope (SR-SIM) imaging technique. Combined with a reliable image reconstruction algorithm and timing synchronization of all devices, the super-resolution (SR) images in hepatocytes reached 134.95 nm spatial resolution and 50 fps temporal resolution. This imaging system was able to maintain the optimal operation state over hundreds of time points due to less exposure and low phototoxicity. In hepatocytes, interactions between mitochondria and lipid droplets (LDs) underpin many crucial physiological processes, ranging from cellular metabolism to signaling. In this study, we pioneered the use of the SIM system for imaging the interaction characteristics between mitochondria and LDs. More than 200 hepatocytes were counted and recorded effectively. We found that LDs in an unstable state were divided under mitochondrial contact and fused without it. Among 200 LDs, more than 69% were surrounded by mitochondria that tended to wrap LDs. The SR-SIM imaging technique was demonstrated to break the limitations of conventional imaging methods in spatial-temporal resolution and imaging duration in the field of the dynamic study between mitochondria and LDs.