Imaging Sustained Dissipative Patterns in the Metabolism of Individual Living Cells

Abstract

Theoretical studies have predicted spatiotemporal organization of cell metabolism. Using a rapidly gated CCD camera, we demonstrate for the first time sustained traveling waves of NAD(P)H autofluorescence and protons in individual morphologically polarized living cells. Chemical concentration fronts moved in the direction of cell orientation, thus correlating dissipative structures with cell shape.

Intracellular Calcium Waves Accompany Neutrophil Polarization, Formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine Stimulation, and Phagocytosis: A High Speed Microscopy Study

“…We speculate that intracellular signaling may be understood in terms of spatiotemporal variables. Because enzymes can respond to Ca 2ϩ , ATP, NADPH, pH, cAMP, and other intracellular conditions and because Ca 2ϩ , NAD(P)H, and pH exhibit various signaling patterns (23)(24)(25)(26), a variety of superimposed spatiotemporal patterns could be generated. Hence, a few chemicals, each with a set of characteristic patterns, could generate many spatiotemporal enzyme activity patterns.…”

“…The high speed microscopic imaging techniques outlined in this and previous papers (23)(24)(25)(26) were designed to permit analyses of chemical wave propagation events within immune cells and should be generally applicable. For example, interactions been leukocytes and targets such as microbes and tumor cells is one potential area of interest.…”

“…Data capture used a software-allocated RAM disk. For emission spectroscopy, the mirror in the Acton unit was replaced with a ruled grating (300 grooves/mm) (23). A schematic diagram of the apparatus is shown in Fig.…”

“…We have recently developed a high speed microscopic imaging technique that captures individual images with 50 ns to ms exposure times at up to 1000 frames/s (23)(24)(25)(26), which allows us to collect stop-action movies of extremely rapid cell signaling events.…”

Apparent role of traveling metabolic waves in oxidant release by living neutrophils

“…One well known oscillator exhibiting temporal oscillations and spatiotemporal patterns is glycolysis (3). Although formation of dissipative metabolic structures had been predicted (4)(5)(6)(7) and observed in cell extracts (8)(9)(10)(11), it has become possible only recently to detect these structures in living cells (12)(13)(14). However, it has not been established whether dissipative metabolic structures represent a physical curiosity in cells or an important biological regulatory mechanism.…”