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Visualization of vesicle transport along and between distinct pathways in neurites of living cells
Author(s) -
Schütz Gerhard J.,
Axmann Markus,
Freudenthaler Susanne,
Schindler Hansgeorg,
Kandror Kostya,
Roder John C.,
Jeromin Andreas
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20016
Subject(s) - vesicle , context (archaeology) , neurite , protein filament , cytoskeleton , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , fluorescence microscope , motor protein , microtubule , biology , chemistry , fluorescence , physics , cell , biochemistry , optics , in vitro , membrane , paleontology
Trafficking of secretory vesicles along neurites of PC12 cells was visualized by 2D and 3D real‐time imaging using fluorescence microscopy. Vesicle motion along distinct pathways was directly seen. From an overlay of individual pathways, the underlying cytoskeletal filament could be imaged at a subwavelength resolution. Continuous vesicle transport was interrupted by periods of diffusive motion with concomitant pathway changes. Statistical analysis shows that such interruptions were distributed stochastically along the filament, indicating a limited processivity of motor proteins also in a cellular context. Periods of diffusive motion facilitated the interaction with actively transported vesicles. Frequent associations and dissociations of vesicles have been observed consistently, pointing to a functional relevance of vesicle cotransport. Microsc. Res. Tech. 63:159–167, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.