Here, we present an optimized sample preparation, data acquisition and analysis procedure for SMLM using BODIPY conjugates based on the protocol above (Figure 1A). To demonstrate an example of the workflow for acquiring and analyzing SMLM data, we employ BODIPY (493/503) in yeast to resolve LDs below the optical diffraction limit (Figure 1B-F). Examples of the different multi-color imaging modes of BODIPY in conjunction with other probes such as GFP, mEos2 are shown in Figure 2. We manipulate the metabolic state in yeast by growing them in the same medium for ~48 h and show that BODIPY-C12 forms immobile non-LD clusters in cell periphery upon fasting in contrast to their incorporation into LDs under fed conditions (Figure 3). To further extend the SMLM capability of BODIPY conjugates to mammalian cells, we image BODIPY-C12 and LysoTracker-green in live U2OS cells (Figure 4).

Figure 1: Optimization of SMLM data acquisition and analysis using BODIPY dyes. (A) Workflow for optimizing single molecule fluorescence signals and post-processing of the SMLM data from BODIPY conjugates. (B) LED image (left), conventional fluorescence image (middle, excitation: 488 nm, emission: 525 nm) and anti-Stokes image (right, excitation: 561 nm, emission: 525 nm) of yeast cells stained with the LD marker BODIPY (493/503). (C) Single SMLM frames showing singe BODIPY DII emitters (excitation: 561 nm, emission: 595 nm) at too low density (left), optimal density (middle) and too high density (right). (D) Optimization of SMLM analysis parameters. With a too high photon number threshold, the software misses valid single molecule signals (left), detects all molecules with an optimal photon threshold (middle) and detects false localizations with too low photon thresholds (right). (E) SMLM image of BODIPY (493/503) resolves the size of LDs (left, zoom) with a mean diameter of 125 nm. (F) Single molecule tracking reveals confined diffusion of BODIPY (493/503) inside LDs (left). Traces are used to compute the MSD vs. time curve, which exhibits sub-diffusive behavior inside LDs (right). Scale bar = 1 μm, zoom = 100 nm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 2: Multi-color SMLM imaging using BODIPY conjugates in living cells. (A) Conventional image of BODIPY-C12 under 488 nm excitation (left). Corresponding SMLM image using DII states of BODIPY-C12 under 561 nm excitation (middle) and zoom (right) revealing BODIPY-C12 in emerging LDs. (B) Conventional fluorescence image of the ER labeled with Sec63-GFP under 488 nm excitation (left). Simultaneously recorded conventional fluorescence image of BODIPY-C12 red with 561 nm excitation (middle) and SMLM image using 640 nm excitation (right). (C) Sequential two-color SMLM imaging of Sec63-mEos2 and BODIPY-C12 green DII states. First, mEos2 is imaged with high 405 nm photo-activation and 561 nm excitation (left) followed by long data acquisition without 405 nm activation (middle). Scale bar = 1 µm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 3: Differential fatty acid distribution upon fasting in yeast cells. (A) Schematic describing different metabolic states (fed and fasted condition) based on the duration of growth in the SCD medium. B) Conventional fluorescence images (top) show that BODIPY-C12 red co-localizes with BODIPY (493/503) under fed conditions indicating incorporation into LDs. The SMLM image (lower, left) shows dense BODIPY-C12 puncta in LDs and single molecule traces (lower, right) exhibit diffusion along cellular membranes. (C) Under fasted condition, BODIPY-C12 forms puncta in the cell periphery that do not co-localize with LDs (upper: left, middle, lower left). The SMLM image resolves the puncta and confined traces of BODIPY-C12 red (lower, right). (D) The radial distribution function (left) shows higher clustering of BODIPY-FAs upon fasting. The mean-square displacement vs. time plot of single molecule tracking (right) confirms immobilization of BODIPY-C12 upon fasting. Scale bar = 1 μm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 4: Imaging of BODIPY dyes in live mammalian U2OS cells. (A) Conventional fluorescence image (left) of BODIPY-C12 at 488 nm excitation. The corresponding SMLM image using DII states (right) at 561 nm excitation shows the nanoscopic distribution of DII states in U2OS cell. The insets show magnifications of lipid droplets (scale bar = 500 nm). (B) Conventional image of lysosomes in U2OS cells using LysoTracker green at 488 nm excitation (left). The corresponding SMLM image of immobile lysosomes (right, scale bar = 5 µm) at 561 nm excitation. Inset: SMLM image of an optically diffraction limited lysosome (scale bar 100 nm). The BODIPY-C12 images were recorded in live cell imaging solution at 23 °C. The images of lysosomes using LysoTracker green were recorded in non-fluorescent DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum, 4 mM glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate and 1% penicillin-streptomycin antibiotics at 37 °C. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.