Live imaging of mitosomes and hydrogenosomes by HaloTag technology

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e36314. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036314. Epub 2012 Apr 27.

Abstract

Hydrogenosomes and mitosomes represent remarkable mitochondrial adaptations in the anaerobic parasitic protists such as Trichomonas vaginalis and Giardia intestinalis, respectively. In order to provide a tool to study these organelles in the live cells, the HaloTag was fused to G. intestinalis IscU and T. vaginalis frataxin and expressed in the mitosomes and hydrogenosomes, respectively. The incubation of the parasites with the fluorescent Halo-ligand resulted in highly specific organellar labeling, allowing live imaging of the organelles. With the array of available ligands the HaloTag technology offers a new tool to study the dynamics of mitochondria-related compartments as well as other cellular components in these intriguing unicellular eukaryotes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Cell Survival
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Giardia lamblia / cytology
  • Giardia lamblia / genetics
  • Hydrolases / genetics
  • Ligands
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Organelles / metabolism*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics*
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / cytology
  • Trichomonas vaginalis / genetics

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Hydrolases
  • haloalkane dehalogenase