A Novel Method to Image Macropinocytosis in Vivo

Lunhao Chen; Daxiao Cheng; Jiachen Chu; Ting Zhang; Zhuoer Dong; Huifang Lou; Liya Zhu; Yijun Liu

doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00324

A Novel Method to Image Macropinocytosis in Vivo

Front Neurosci. 2018 May 15:12:324. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00324. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Lunhao Chen^{1

2}, Daxiao Cheng¹, Jiachen Chu^{1

3}, Ting Zhang¹, Zhuoer Dong⁴, Huifang Lou¹, Liya Zhu¹, Yijun Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Ministry of Health of China, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
² Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
³ Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
⁴ Middle School Attached to Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.

Abstract

Here we described an experimental protocol for in vivo imaging of macropinocytosis and subsequent intracellular events. By microinjection, we delivered fluorescence dextrans together with or without ATPγS into transparent Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Using a confocal microscope for live imaging, we monitored the generation of dextran-positive macropinosomes and subsequent intracellular events. Our protocol provides a continent and reliable way for investigating macropinocytosis and its underlying mechanisms, especially when combined with genetic strategies.

Keywords: Drosophila; embryo; hemocyte; in vivo; live imaging; macropinocytosis.