ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Novel microscopy technique shows cell nucleus rotating

It moves in 3D.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
April 2, 2021
in Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

With this technique, we can study cellular processes in unprecedented detail, researchers says.

This image displays a single 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell imaged with holotomography. The remarkable feature of this image is the beautiful mitochondrial network, elongated and well connected. Image credits: Hugo Moreno and Dr. Mathieu Frechin.

Studying cells is never easy. During the imaging process, cells can be damaged by light, while color dyes that make visualization easier can interfere biochemically. But in a recent study, researchers found a way to image cells in unprecedented detail without damaging them.

The technique combines image analysis with a 3D microscopy technique, and it produces more than just a pretty picture — it offers “access to an uncharted field of biological dynamics and describes a unique set of simple computer-vision strategies” researchers say.

“The ability to not only observe, but to measure dynamics of undisturbed living cells, through the application of quantification techniques to holo-tomographic microscopy, is likely to lead to the discovery of fundamentally new cell behaviors, and a new understanding of previously studied phenomena as well,” said lead author Mathieu Frechin of  Swiss company Nanolive.

The technique relies on a new form of microscopy called holo-tomographic microscopy (HTM). HTM incorporates both holography and tomography. It splits a light beam into two, allowing only one part of it to pass through the sample. When the two parts are reunited, the differences in their waveform are used to infer various properties of the sample (based on its refractive index). Then, the process is repeated with the sample tilted at a slight angle, again and again, until the resulting images can be combined in a three-dimensional picture of a cell.

The method doesn’t involve any contrast dyes and it completely preserves the integrity of the cell, and it can be used to study a multitude of cellular processes, the researchers note.

In the study, researchers used this approach to highlight little-known processes about the cell. For instance, they showed that in the run-off to mitosis (one of the two types of cellular division, in which the nucleus divides in two), the entire nucleus rotates between 80 and 700 degrees over a period of a few minutes or a few hours. They also obtained quantitative data about the flux of fat within cells, measuring the formation and flow of fat droplets.

This type of approach can help us shed new light on a number of previously unknown processes, allowing researcherches to step into “uncharted field of biological dynamics,” the team says.

RelatedPosts

Expedition to the deep ocean reveals myriad of bizarre creatures, including “faceless fish”
Scientists find a woman that can see 99 million more colors than you or me
A Cartoonish Crash Test Raises Real Questions About Tesla’s Autopilot
Plant study hints at dangers of global warming

Journal Reference: Sandoz PA, Tremblay C, van der Goot FG, Frechin M (2019) Image-based analysis of living mammalian cells using label-free 3D refractive index maps reveals new organelle dynamics and dry mass flux. PLoS Biol 17(12): e3000553. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000553

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

News

Coolness Isn’t About Looks or Money. It’s About These Six Things, According to Science

byTibi Puiu
28 minutes ago
Archaeology

Ancient Roman Pompeii had way more erotic art than you’d think

byMihai Andrei
58 minutes ago
Animals

Wild Orcas Are Offering Fish to Humans and Scientists Say They May Be Trying to Bond with Us

byTibi Puiu
2 hours ago
Clumps of gold recovered from a mine placed on a wooden table.
Chemistry

No Mercury, No Cyanide: This is the Safest and Greenest Way to Recover Gold from E-waste

byRupendra Brahambhatt
3 hours ago

Recent news

Coolness Isn’t About Looks or Money. It’s About These Six Things, According to Science

July 1, 2025

Ancient Roman Pompeii had way more erotic art than you’d think

July 1, 2025

Wild Orcas Are Offering Fish to Humans and Scientists Say They May Be Trying to Bond with Us

July 1, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.