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Since the discovery of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in the 1960s, fluorescent proteins (FPs) have gained great prominence as tools for biological studies. Their role as reporters has added new dimensions to the analysis of protein function and localization. The use of FPs allows for real-time examination, in live cells, of proteins that previously had only been observed through immunocytochemical “snapshots” in fixed specimens. The utility of fluorescent proteins has expanded, and they are widely used in the investigation of gene expression as well as protein localization, translocation, and trafficking within live cells. More advanced techniques include assessment of protein–protein interactions and spatial relationships of proteins in live cells using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). In addition, far red–emitting FPs that exhibit emissions beyond typical autofluorescence wavelengths have proven useful for imaging of tissues. Even more recently, FPs have been used to assess intracellular topology in live cells using super-resolution localization imaging.
The quest for new FPs with unique excitation and emission profiles has been the focus of many distinguished laboratories, and mutation and evolution of such proteins has led to the creation of variants including the “fruit” FPs (e.g., tdTomato, mStrawberry, mCherry, mPlum, and mRaspberry), specialized FPs such as the fluorescent timer protein Kusabira Green Orange, long–Stokes shift (LSS) fluorescent proteins such as LSS-mKate2, and photo-switchable FPs such as Dendra2 and mEos2. The large variety of fluorescent proteins opens up significant opportunities to increase the depth and intensity of cell analysis, but this also requires the proper tools and knowledge to do so. The Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer was developed with fluorescent protein analysis in mind; it enables easy and accurate analysis of multiple fluorescent proteins simultaneously in the same cell. This application note discusses a variety of available fluorescent proteins, their advantages, and how the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer enables their detection.
Fluorescent protein | Excitation max (nm) | Emission max (nm) | Channel on Attune NxT Flow Cytometer |
---|---|---|---|
Azurite, TagBFP, mTagBFP, mTagBFP2, Cerulean, ECFP, TagCFP, AmCyan | 383, 400, 400, 400, 433, 439, 458, 458 | 450, 456, 456, 456, 475, 476, 480, 489 | VL1 (440/50), VL2 (512/25) |
T-Sapphire | 399 | 511 | VL3 (603/48) |
LSS-mKate1, LSS-mKate2 | 463, 460 | 624, 605 | BL1 (530/30 or 510/10*) |
TurboGFP, EGFP, TagGFP, emerald GFP (emGFP) | 482, 483, 484, 487 | 502, 506, 507, 509 | BL1 (530/30 or 510/10*) |
TagYFP, TurboYFP, EYFP, Topaz, Venus, Citrine | 508, 508, 514, 514, 515, 517 | 524, 524, 527, 527, 528, 529 | BL2 (574/26 or 590/40)† or (540/30)* |
mKOm, mOrange, mOrange2, Kusabira Green Orange, E2 Orange | 548, 548, 549, 548, 540 | 559, 562, 565, 561, 561 | YL1 (585/16) |
DsRed, DsRed2, DsRed-Express, | 553, 553, 553, 554, 555, | 583, 583, 584, 581, 584, | YL2 (620/15 or 615/25*) |
tdTomato, TagRFP, mStrawberry, | 574, 587, 588, 588, 588 | 596, 610, 635, 633, 635 | |
mCherry, mKate, mKate2, | |||
TurboFP635 (Katushka) | |||
mPlum, HcRed, mRaspberry, mNeptune, E2Crimson | 590, 592, 598, 599, 611 | 649, 645, 625, 649, 646 | YL3 (695/40) |
*Bandpass emission filter used with the Invitrogen Attune NxT Fluorescent Protein Filter Kit (optional, Cat. No. 100022775). †The 574/26 filter set is standard on all Attune NxT instruments that are not configured with a yellow laser. The 590/40 filter set is included on Attune NxT instruments configured with the yellow laser. |
The use of FPs became popular in the field of flow cytometry in the 1990s after a mutation of wild-type GFP resulted in a variant that is optimally excited by the 488 nm argon-ion laser common to most flow cytometers [1]. Early studies using FPs in flow cytometry included the quantitative detection and monitoring of gene expression in yeast [2], bacteria [3], and eukaryotic cells [4]. Today there are over 70 FPs available, of which approximately 56 are commonly used in flow cytometry and exhibit excitation wavelengths between 355 nm and 600 nm (Table 1). Cell biologists have advanced their research by taking advantage of this large set of choices of FPs, combined with the increased availability of alternate excitation sources such as the 405 nm, 532 nm, and 561 nm lasers, and developing multiparameter flow cytometry assays. These assays are designed to analyze cells with multiple labels, including FPs expressed in the cells as well as fluorescent antibody conjugates and functional probe reagents [5–8].
The simultaneous detection of multiple FPs in the same cell has traditionally been more difficult than the detection of multiple fluorophore-labeled antibodies. This is in part because FPs have a different, broader emission spectrum than the traditional cell dyes and fluorophores used in the labeling of antibodies. Recent advances in flow cytometry instrumentation, such as the increased number of lasers and corresponding filter sets in the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer, have alleviated most of these problems. This has resulted in the greater enablement of multiparametric single-cell analysis. The Attune NxT Flow Cytometer is ideally suited for the detection of multiple FPs and fluorescently labeled antibodies (separately or in combination), with configurations allowing up to 4 lasers and 16 detection channels (14 colors and 2 scatter channels). This markedly advances the field of single-cell analysis, as described in this application note.
The modular design of the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer enables a choice of lasers, including the 488 nm laser for excitation of the most commonly used FP (EGFP) and its variants (emGFP, TurboGFP), and can be upgraded to include optional 405 nm, 561 nm, and 637 nm lasers. These additional lasers enable more choices for the use of combinations of fluorescent proteins and labeled antibodies (Figure 1). The 561 nm laser is particularly useful for exciting the orange- and red-fluorescent protein variants such as mCherry, mKate, and mOrange2. mCherry is a popular monomeric red-fluorescent protein that exhibits superior brightness and photostability [9]. mKate is known for its fast maturation rate as well as its high pH stability and photostability [10]. Finally, mOrange2 is a bright monomeric orange-fluorescent protein that expands the viable options. The 405 nm laser provides many options as well, such as excitement of TagBFP [11], a bright blue-fluorescent protein created by site-specific and random mutagenesis of TagRFP. The 405 nm laser can also be used to excite other FPs such as Azurite and T-Sapphire. Figure 1 shows detection of a variety of FPs using the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer.
Figure 1. Detection of a palette of fluorescent proteins using the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer. Cells were transfected or transduced with vectors expressing different fluorescent proteins. Samples were acquired on the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer at a fl ow rate of 100 μL/min using 405 nm, 488 nm, or 561 nm excitation sources. The gray peaks represent control cells that do not express fluorescent proteins.
Many experiments today involve the simultaneous analysis of multiple FPs in the same cell, but as mentioned earlier, this can be problematic due to their broad emission spectrum and resulting spectral overlap. It is therefore important to understand the appropriate laser and filter set configurations to use with each combination of FPs. Figure 2 demonstrates how experiments involving multiple FPs can be performed to achieve the clear separation of cells expressing one of the FPs, both FPs, or neither FP.
Figure 2. Detection of multiple FPs expressed in the same cell. 293FT cells were transfected with two plasmids, either by sequential delivery of each plasmid separately (top panels), or in 1:1 (w/w) mixes (bottom panels), using Invitrogen Lipofectamine 3000 reagent. Transfected cells were grown for 48 hr prior to harvest and analysis by flow cytometry. Samples were acquired using the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer at a flow rate of 100 μL/min, and a minimum of 15,000 events were collected for each sample. All major cell populations are detected: cells expressing one of the FPs, both FPs, and neither FP (percentages are indicated on the plots). Cells expressing the FPs are easily distinguished from non–FP-expressing cells. (A) The 405 nm and 561 nm lasers were used for excitation of TagBFP and mOrange2, respectively. (B) The 405 nm and 561 nm lasers were used for excitation of TagBFP and mKate, respectively. (C) The 488 nm and 561 nm lasers were used for excitation of emGFP and mKate, respectively.
As an example of spectral overlap, GFP and YFP are two FPs that can both be excited and detected by the same set of laser and bandpass filters. This is important because GFP and YFP are both widely used. In this case, the 488 nm laser efficiently excites both of these FPs and both can also be detected with the 530/30 nm bandpass filter typical on most flow cytometers [12]. The simultaneous use of both of these FPs requires appropriate filter sets to accurately discriminate the signals coming from each FP. The GFP and YFP signals can be appropriately discriminated using the Invitrogen Attune NxT Fluorescent Protein Filter Kit. This is demonstrated in Figure 3. The full protocol for this experiment, using U2OS cells transfected with both Invitrogen CellLight Histone 2B-GFP and Premo Halide Sensor, is described below in the “Materials and methods” section.
Figure 3. Flow cytometric detection of dual expression of GFP and YFP. U2OS cells were transfected with vectors encoding GFP or YFP, either individually (B, C) or in combination (D). Untransfected cells are shown in (A). Samples were acquired and analyzed using the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer at a fl ow rate of 200 μL/min. A total of 400,000 cells were collected for the sample coexpressing both FPs, and a minimum of 5,000 events were collected for each control sample. The 488 nm laser was used for excitation of both FPs. Coexpression of GFP and YFP is shown in the upper-right quadrant of (D), and the lower-right quadrant shows cells expressing only GFP.
In addition to target-specific FP experiments, FPs are also valuable tools for labeling organelles in the cell. CellLight and Premo reagents offer simple and efficient baculovirus- mediated (BacMam) delivery of genes for FP constructs for a variety of applications amenable to fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry. These reagents enable simple and specific labeling of organelles in live cells. With these reagents, the FP is introduced using a simple transfection step that does not require molecular biology techniques.
They can be used like standard cell stains and can be detected easily by flow cytometry (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Live-cell detection with CellLight reagents. Baculovirus constructs encoding emGFP or TagRFP were cotransduced into U2OS cells. Samples were acquired using a four-laser Attune NxT Flow Cytometer equipped with 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 637 nm lasers. As expected, the majority of cells in the sample are co-positive for both FPs (emGFP+/TagRFP+, 71.54%). There are two minor populations of cells that only express one FP: emGFP+/TagRFP– cells are 23.52% of the population and emGFP–/TagRFP+, cells are 2.77% of the population. Only a small number of cells do not express either protein (2.16%).
A procedure for the simultaneous detection of GFP and YFP using the Attune NxT Fluorescent Protein Filter Kit is described here.
Sample | Reagent | Amount per 1 mL sample |
---|---|---|
Unstained control | NA | NA |
GFP control | CellLight reagent | 10 μL |
YFP control | Premo reagent | 20 μL |
GFP and YFP | CellLight and Premo reagents | 10 μL, 20 μL |
Channel | Original filter configuration (nm) | FP filter configuration (nm) |
---|---|---|
BL1 | 530/30 | 510/10 |
BL1 | 555DLP | 525DLP |
BL2 | 590/40 | 540/30 |
YL2* | 620/15 | 615/25 |
* Not used for this experiment. |
Figure 5. Use of the Attune NxT Fluorescent Protein Filter Kit. The standard configuration for the 561 nm yellow and 488 nm blue laser optical filter blocks is shown in (A), and the same optical filter blocks using the Attune NxT Fluorescent Protein Filter Kit are shown in (B), with changes outlined in red. To use the filter kit, remove the 530/30 nm BP in BL1 (slot 2) and replace it with the 510/10 nm BP filter; remove the 590/40 nm BP filter from BL2 (slot 3) and replace it with the 540/30 nm BP filter; remove the 555DLP filter (slot B) and replace it with the 525DLP filter. This allows detection of GFP with the 510/10 nm BP filter in the BL1 detector and YFP with the 540/30 nm BP filter in the BL2 detector.
Fluorescent proteins are a valuable tool for researchers. A world of possibilities has been opened through their discovery and incorporation into biological research. The ability to monitor both live and dead manipulated cells allows researchers to better understand the mechanisms that regulate cellular processes. However, in order to utilize this, it is necessary to be able to analyze these processes on an individual cellular basis. Fortunately, with the increasing abilities of flow cytometers like the Attune NxT Flow Cytometer with up to 16 parameters of detection and clog- resistant design, researchers can now explore what was overly difficult or simply impossible only a few years ago.
Get the most out of your FP experiments. Visit our Flow Cytometry Resource Center at thermofisher.com/ flowresourcesbp71 for useful tutorials, webinars, application notes, fluorophore guides, and more information on reagents and instrumentation for flow cytometry.