Issue 1, 2021

Understanding the lipid production mechanism in Euglena gracilis with a fast-response AIEgen bioprobe, DPAS

Abstract

Lipid bodies are lipid-rich organelles that can regulate the storage of neutral lipids as energy sources in organisms. Visualisation of lipid droplets is an effective approach to understand lipid dynamics in microalgae. This study explores the required environmental conditions to yield lipid in a microalgal species Euglena gracilis as the biofunctional component using a lipid-specific aggregation-induced emission fluorogen, DPAS (C20H16N2O), and compares it to the commercial lipid staining probe BODIPY for visualising the lipid production in vivo. Five treatments are investigated for lipid production: (1) modified Cramer–Myers medium (MCM), (2) MCM without nitrogen (−), (3) MCM without nitrogen (−) and calcium (−), (4) MCM without nitrogen (−) and calcium (−), but with glucose (+), and (5) MCM without nitrogen (−) and calcium (−), but with glucose (+). Illumination was continuous at a rate of 70 mmol photons per m−2 s−1 in all treatments except with no light for treatment of 5. Distinct lipid droplets are labelled with DPAS and detected by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry to clarify the understanding of the lipid enrichment mechanism under various conditions. Treatment 1 indicates low lipid production in E. gracilis under an autotrophic condition. DPAS benefits from a very low background signal, and therefore, it is more sensitive than BODIPY for semiquantitative in vivo fluorescence measurements. Co-staining in the presence of BODIPY and chlorophyll also indicates that DPAS is suitable for multicolour imaging with red and green fluorophores. The present study demonstrates that DPAS is a highly effective biocompatible and photostable fluorophore for rapid and sensitive visualisation of lipid droplets. This novel staining method could be used to screen microalgae that have a potential to produce lipid droplets as a health supplement for humans.

Graphical abstract: Understanding the lipid production mechanism in Euglena gracilis with a fast-response AIEgen bioprobe, DPAS

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
24 Aug 2020
Accepted
02 Okt 2020
First published
09 Okt 2020

Mater. Chem. Front., 2021,5, 268-283

Understanding the lipid production mechanism in Euglena gracilis with a fast-response AIEgen bioprobe, DPAS

A. M. Reza, Y. Zhou, J. Tavakoli, Y. Tang and J. Qin, Mater. Chem. Front., 2021, 5, 268 DOI: 10.1039/D0QM00621A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements