Name: Optical Clearing of Plant Tissues for Fluorescence Imaging (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2022-01-05T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 4 min 55 s
Description: Learn optical clearing of plant tissues for fluorescence imaging using vacuum-assisted fixation and ClearSee solutions. This method enables deep imaging of Arabidopsis thaliana without physical sectioning.

ai_agent_IP

ai_agent

maintenance

instantTrialDurationMinutes

isBiopharma

enableNewMyJoveSectionDesign

educationFeatures

seoMetaApi

ai_copilot_institution_blacklist

ai_chat_institution_blacklist

freeAccessWindow

ssoRoleCapture

scheduledMaintenanceBanner

joveLabsFeatures

disable_autoplay_for_bots

extended_trial_duration

5 minutes

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (JP16H06464, JP16H06280 to T.H.), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B, JP17H03697 to D.K.), Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (JP18K19331 to D.K.), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (JP20H05358 for D.K.)) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (PRESTO program (JPMJPR15QC to Y.M., JPMJPR18K4 to D.K.)). The authors are thankful to the Live Imaging Center at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM) of Nagoya University for supporting the microscopic studies and Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

1. Preparation of clearing solutions
<ol>
	<li>To prepare CS solution, dissolve 10% (w/v) xylitol, 15% (w/v) sodium deoxycholate, and 25% (w/v) urea in distilled water on a magnetic stirrer. 
	NOTE: Sodium deoxycholate powder should be weighed in a draft chamber as it easily floats in the air. CS can be stored at room temperature in dark for more than 1 year.</li>
	<li>To prepare CSA solution, add sodium sulfite (50 mM final concentration) to the CS solution obtained above. 
	​NOTE: Add sodium sulfite to the CS solution right before use as the reducing agent gets deactivated easily.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of the fixative solution
<ol>
	<li>Transfer 40 mL of sterilized water into a conical tube and add 2 g of paraformaldehyde. Add 200 µL of 2 N NaOH to increase the pH of the solution. After closing and sealing the tube with parafilm, incubate at 60 °C with occasional inversions until everything is dissolved.</li>
	<li>After cooling the solution to room temperature, add 5 mL of 10x phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to adjust the pH to 7.4. Add sterilized water to make up the volume to 50 mL. 
	​NOTE: A freshly prepared fixative solution is preferred. The solution can also be stored at -30 °C for several months.</li>
</ol>
3. Fixation of samples
<ol>
	<li>Immerse plant samples in the fixative solution in a microtube (Figure 1A), ensuring that the volume of the fixative solution is more than five times the sample volume.</li>
	<li>Seal the microtube with a parafilm and make holes using a needle. Do not leave the tube open owing to a risk of sample spillage during vacuum decompression.</li>
	<li>Place the microtube in a desiccator and slowly adjust the degree of vacuum (~690 mmHg) so that bubbles appear gradually from the samples (Figure 1B-C). Turn off the vacuum pump after evacuating the desiccator. Leave the microtube undisturbed for 30 min at room temperature.</li>
	<li>Vent the desiccator carefully to prevent disturbing the samples. Turn on the vacuum pump again and turn it off after evacuating the desiccator. Leave the microtube undisturbed for 30 min at room temperature. 
	NOTE: Care should be taken to prevent damage to the samples while venting the desiccator. The penetration of the fixative solution into the samples is enhanced by two vacuum treatments. Further vacuum treatment helps to penetrate the fixative solution into thicker samples.</li>
	<li>Open the desiccator carefully without bumping the fixative solution in the microtube. Using a micropipette, remove the fixative solution and add 1x PBS. After storing for 1 min, replace the old PBS with new 1x PBS (Figure 1D).</li>
</ol>
4. Clearing
<ol>
	<li>After removing PBS, add five times the sample volume of the clearing solution.</li>
	<li>Seal the microtube with parafilm and make holes using a needle. Place the samples in the desiccator, evacuate as in step 3.3, and turn off the vacuum pump. Leave the microtube undisturbed for 60 min at room temperature.</li>
	<li>Open the desiccator gently. Close the microtube with parafilm and store it at room temperature in the dark to avoid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins. Invert the microtube every 1-2 days to accelerate the clearing process.</li>
	<li>When the clearing solution turns green, replace it with new clearing solutions until the solution remains colorless (Figure 1E-H).</li>
</ol>
<img alt="Plant tissue sample extraction process in microcentrifuge tubes, step-by-step experiment stages." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig01.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788282455000" data-alt="Figure 1"> 
Figure 1: Procedure for CS treatment. (A) Arabidopsis seedling in 4% PFA (Paraformaldehyde) solution. (B) The sample is placed into a desiccator. (C) The seedling is fixed under a vacuum. (D) The seedling is soaked in the PFA solution after vacuum treatment. (E) Resulting 3-day clearing solution-treated seedling. Note the green color of the clearing solution. (F) The clearing solution is replaced 3 days after treatment. (G) Resulting 5-day clearing solution-treated seedling. (H) The clearing solution is replaced 5 days after treatment. Scale bars: 1 cm (A,C-H) and 5 cm (B). <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
5. Chemical dye staining
<ol>
	<li>To the microtube, add Hoechst 33342 (final concentration of 10 µg/mL) for nuclear staining or Calcofluor White (final concentration of 1 mg/mL) for cell wall staining and wait for 1 h. After removing the dye solution, wash the sample with a fresh clearing solution for 1 h. 
	​NOTE: Overnight staining and washing can improve fluorescent dye penetration into tissues and reduce background fluorescence. Various fluorescent dyes are compatible with the CS solution such as Basic Fuchsin9 (lignin), Auramine O9 (lignin, suberin, and cutin), Nile Red9 (suberin), Direct Yellow 969, Direct Red 239, and SR220010,11 (cell walls).</li>
</ol>
6. Observation
<ol>
	<li>Cut silicone rubber sheet with a razor blade to prepare a frame for the spacer (Figure 2A). 
	NOTE: Adjust the thickness of the silicon rubber sheet according to the thickness of the sample. As samples treated with clearing solution are soft, they will be damaged if they are covered directly with the cover glass.</li>
	<li>Place the silicone frame on cover glass (e.g., 25 x 60 mm) (Figure 2B). Place the treated samples within the frame and add ~100 µL of clearing solution to remove any bubbles in the frame. Cover with another cover glass (18 x 18 mm or 24 x 24 mm) to prevent evaporation of the clearing solution (Figure 2C).</li>
	<li>Observe the samples under a fluorescent microscope. After observation, return the samples to the clearing solution taken in a microtube and store at room temperature in the dark.</li>
</ol>
<img alt="Fabrication process diagram; step-by-step assembly of microfluidic device components." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig02.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788282455000" data-alt="Figure 2"> 
Figure 2: Sample preparation for microscopic observation. (A) Cut a 0.2 mm thick silicone sheet into a frame. (B) Put the silicone sheet frame onto the cover glass. (C) Place the sample treated with clearing solution (marked by dotted border) within the frame and cover it with a cover glass. Scale bars: 5 mm. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig02large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

<ol><li>Vogelmann, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Light+within+the+plant%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Photomorphogenesis+in+Plants%22%5BJournal%5D)">Light within the plant.</a> Photomorphogenesis in Plants. , 491-535 (1994).</li>
<li>Krause, G. H., Weis, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Chlorophyll+fluorescence+and+photosynthesis%3A+The+basics%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Annual+Review+of+Plant+Physiology+and+Plant+Molecular+Biology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis: The basics.</a> Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology. 42 (1), 313-349 (1991).</li>
<li>Pourcel, L., Routaboul, J., Cheynier, V., Lepiniec, L., Debeaujon, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Flavonoid+oxidation+in+plants%3A+from+biochemical+properties+to+physiological+functions%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Trends+in+Plant+Science%22%5BJournal%5D)">Flavonoid oxidation in plants: from biochemical properties to physiological functions.</a> Trends in Plant Science. 12 (1), 29-36 (2007).</li>
<li>Lersten, N. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((An+annotated+bibliography+of+botanical+clearing+methods%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Iowa+State+Journal+of+Science%22%5BJournal%5D)">An annotated bibliography of botanical clearing methods.</a> Iowa State Journal of Science. 41 (4), 481-486 (1967).</li>
<li>Villani, T. S., Koroch, A. R., Simon, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((An+improved+clearing+and+mounting+solution+to+replace+chloral+hydrate+in+microscopic+applications%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Applications+in+Plant+Sciences%22%5BJournal%5D)">An improved clearing and mounting solution to replace chloral hydrate in microscopic applications.</a> Applications in Plant Sciences. 1 (5), 1300016(2013).</li>
<li>Becker, K., Jährling, N., Saghafi, S., Weiler, R., Dodt, H. -U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Chemical+clearing+and+dehydration+of+GFP+expressing+mouse+brains%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PLoS+ONE%22%5BJournal%5D)">Chemical clearing and dehydration of GFP expressing mouse brains.</a> PLoS ONE. 7 (3), 33916(2012).</li>
<li>Kurihara, D., Mizuta, Y., Sato, Y., Higashiyama, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((ClearSee%3A+a+rapid+optical+clearing+reagent+for+whole-plant+fluorescence+imaging%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Development%22%5BJournal%5D)">ClearSee: a rapid optical clearing reagent for whole-plant fluorescence imaging.</a> Development. 142 (23), 4168-4179 (2015).</li>
<li>Kurihara, D., Mizuta, Y., Nagahara, S., Higashiyama, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((ClearSeeAlpha%3A+advanced+optical+clearing+for+whole-plant+imaging%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+and+Cell+Physiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">ClearSeeAlpha: advanced optical clearing for whole-plant imaging.</a> Plant and Cell Physiology. 62 (8), 1302-1310 (2021).</li>
<li>Ursache, R., Andersen, T. G., Marhavý, P., Geldner, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+protocol+for+combining+fluorescent+proteins+with+histological+stains+for+diverse+cell+wall+components%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22The+Plant+Journal%22%5BJournal%5D)">A protocol for combining fluorescent proteins with histological stains for diverse cell wall components.</a> The Plant Journal. 93 (2), 399-412 (2018).</li>
<li>Tofanelli, R., Vijayan, A., Scholz, S., Schneitz, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Protocol+for+rapid+clearing+and+staining+of+fixed+Arabidopsis+ovules+for+improved+imaging+by+confocal+laser+scanning+microscopy%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+Methods%22%5BJournal%5D)">Protocol for rapid clearing and staining of fixed Arabidopsis ovules for improved imaging by confocal laser scanning microscopy.</a> Plant Methods. 15 (1), 120(2019).</li>
<li>Vijayan, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+digital+3D+reference+atlas+reveals+cellular+growth+patterns+shaping+the+Arabidopsis+ovule%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22eLife%22%5BJournal%5D)">A digital 3D reference atlas reveals cellular growth patterns shaping the Arabidopsis ovule.</a> eLife. 10, 1-38 (2021).</li>
<li>Müller, S. M., Galliardt, H., Schneider, J., George Barisas, B., Seidel, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Quantification+of+F%C3%B6rster+resonance+energy+transfer+by+monitoring+sensitized+emission+in+living+plant+cells%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Frontiers+in+Plant+Science%22%5BJournal%5D)">Quantification of Förster resonance energy transfer by monitoring sensitized emission in living plant cells.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 4, 1-20 (2013).</li>
<li>Mizuta, Y., Kurihara, D., Higashiyama, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Two-photon+imaging+with+longer+wavelength+excitation+in+intact+Arabidopsis+tissues%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Protoplasma%22%5BJournal%5D)">Two-photon imaging with longer wavelength excitation in intact Arabidopsis tissues.</a> Protoplasma. 252, 1231-1240 (2015).</li>
<li>Littlejohn, G. R., Gouveia, J. D., Edner, C., Smirnoff, N., Love, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Perfluorodecalin+enhances+in+vivo+confocal+microscopy+resolution+of+Arabidopsis+thaliana+mesophyll%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22New+Phytologist%22%5BJournal%5D)">Perfluorodecalin enhances in vivo confocal microscopy resolution of Arabidopsis thaliana mesophyll.</a> New Phytologist. 186 (4), 1018-1025 (2010).</li>
<li>Warner, C. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((An+optical+clearing+technique+for+plant+tissues+allowing+deep+imaging+and+compatible+with+fluorescence+microscopy%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+Physiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">An optical clearing technique for plant tissues allowing deep imaging and compatible with fluorescence microscopy.</a> Plant Physiology. 166 (4), 1684-1687 (2014).</li>
<li>Hasegawa, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Three-dimensional+imaging+of+plant+organs+using+a+simple+and+rapid+transparency+technique%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+and+Cell+Physiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Three-dimensional imaging of plant organs using a simple and rapid transparency technique.</a> Plant and Cell Physiology. 57 (3), 462-472 (2016).</li>
<li>Musielak, T. J., Slane, D., Liebig, C., Bayer, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+versatile+optical+clearing+protocol+for+deep+tissue+imaging+of+fluorescent+proteins+in+Arabidopsis+thaliana%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22PLOS+ONE%22%5BJournal%5D)">A versatile optical clearing protocol for deep tissue imaging of fluorescent proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana.</a> PLOS ONE. 11 (8), 0161107(2016).</li>
<li>Sakamoto, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Improved+clearing+method+contributes+to+deep+imaging+of+plant+organs%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Research+Square%22%5BJournal%5D)">Improved clearing method contributes to deep imaging of plant organs.</a> Research Square. , (2021).</li>
<li>Tanaka, E., Ono, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Whole-leaf+fluorescence+imaging+to+visualize+in+planta+fungal+structures+of+Victory+onion+leaf+rust+fungus%2C+Uromyces+japonicus%2C+and+its+taxonomic+evaluation%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Mycoscience%22%5BJournal%5D)">Whole-leaf fluorescence imaging to visualize in planta fungal structures of Victory onion leaf rust fungus, Uromyces japonicus, and its taxonomic evaluation.</a> Mycoscience. 59 (2), 137-146 (2018).</li>
<li>Ohtsu, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Spatiotemporal+deep+imaging+of+syncytium+induced+by+the+soybean+cyst+nematode+Heterodera+glycines%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Protoplasma%22%5BJournal%5D)">Spatiotemporal deep imaging of syncytium induced by the soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines.</a> Protoplasma. 254, 2107-2115 (2017).</li>
<li>Duman, Z., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Short+de-etiolation+increases+the+rooting+of+VC801+Avocado+rootstock%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plants%22%5BJournal%5D)">Short de-etiolation increases the rooting of VC801 Avocado rootstock.</a> Plants. 9 (11), 1481(2020).</li>
<li>Ho, W. W. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Integrative+multi-omics+analyses+of+barley+rootzones+under+salinity+stress+reveal+two+distinctive+salt+tolerance+mechanisms%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+Communications%22%5BJournal%5D)">Integrative multi-omics analyses of barley rootzones under salinity stress reveal two distinctive salt tolerance mechanisms.</a> Plant Communications. 1 (3), 100031(2020).</li>
<li>Arsovski, A. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((BrphyB+is+critical+for+rapid+recovery+to+darkness+in+mature+Brassica+rapa+leaves%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22bioRxiv%22%5BJournal%5D)">BrphyB is critical for rapid recovery to darkness in mature Brassica rapa leaves.</a> bioRxiv. , (2020).</li>
<li>Doll, Y., Koga, H., Tsukaya, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+diversity+of+stomatal+development+regulation+in+Callitriche+is+related+to+the+intrageneric+diversity+in+lifestyles%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Proceedings+of+the+National+Academy+of+Sciences+of+the+United+States+of+America%22%5BJournal%5D)">The diversity of stomatal development regulation in Callitriche is related to the intrageneric diversity in lifestyles.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 118 (14), (2021).</li>
<li>Eliyahu, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Vegetative+propagation+of+elite+Eucalyptus+clones+as+food+source+for+honeybees+%28Apis+mellifera%29%3B+adventitious+roots+versus+callus+formation%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Israel+Journal+of+Plant+Sciences%22%5BJournal%5D)">Vegetative propagation of elite Eucalyptus clones as food source for honeybees (Apis mellifera); adventitious roots versus callus formation.</a> Israel Journal of Plant Sciences. 67 (1-2), 83-97 (2020).</li>
<li>Kelliher, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((MATRILINEAL%2C+a+sperm-specific+phospholipase%2C+triggers+maize+haploid+induction%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature%22%5BJournal%5D)">MATRILINEAL, a sperm-specific phospholipase, triggers maize haploid induction.</a> Nature. 542, 105-109 (2017).</li>
<li>Aki, S. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Cytokinin+signaling+is+essential+for+organ+formation+in+Marchantia+polymorpha%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+and+Cell+Physiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Cytokinin signaling is essential for organ formation in Marchantia polymorpha.</a> Plant and Cell Physiology. 60 (8), 1842-1854 (2019).</li>
<li>Kinoshita, A., Koga, H., Tsukaya, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Expression+profiles+of+ANGUSTIFOLIA3+and+SHOOT+MERISTEMLESS%2C+key+genes+for+meristematic+activity+in+a+one-leaf+plant+Monophyllaea+glabra%2C+revealed+by+whole-mount+in+situ+hybridization%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Frontiers+in+Plant+Science%22%5BJournal%5D)">Expression profiles of ANGUSTIFOLIA3 and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS, key genes for meristematic activity in a one-leaf plant Monophyllaea glabra, revealed by whole-mount in situ hybridization.</a> Frontiers in Plant Science. 11, 1-11 (2020).</li>
<li>Okazawa, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Localization+of+planteose+hydrolysis+during+seed+germination+of+Orobanche+minor%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22bioRxiv%22%5BJournal%5D)">Localization of planteose hydrolysis during seed germination of Orobanche minor.</a> bioRxiv. , 448768(2021).</li>
<li>Chen, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((VAPYRIN+attenuates+defence+by+repressing+PR+gene+induction+and+localized+lignin+accumulation+during+arbuscular+mycorrhizal+symbiosis+of+Petunia+hybrida%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22New+Phytologist%22%5BJournal%5D)">VAPYRIN attenuates defence by repressing PR gene induction and localized lignin accumulation during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis of Petunia hybrida.</a> New Phytologist. 229 (6), 3481-3496 (2021).</li>
<li>Chu, T. T. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Sub-cellular+markers+highlight+intracellular+dynamics+of+membrane+proteins+in+response+to+abiotic+treatments+in+rice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Rice%22%5BJournal%5D)">Sub-cellular markers highlight intracellular dynamics of membrane proteins in response to abiotic treatments in rice.</a> Rice. 11, 23(2018).</li>
<li>Alaguero-Cordovilla, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((An+auxin-mediated+regulatory+framework+for+wound-induced+adventitious+root+formation+in+tomato+shoot+explants%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant%2C+Cell+%26+Environment%22%5BJournal%5D)">An auxin-mediated regulatory framework for wound-induced adventitious root formation in tomato shoot explants.</a> Plant, Cell & Environment. 44 (5), 1642-1662 (2021).</li>
<li>Okuda, A., Matsusaki, M., Masuda, T., Urade, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Identification+and+characterization+of+GmPDIL7%2C+a+soybean+ER+membrane-bound+protein+disulfide+isomerase+family+protein%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22The+FEBS+Journal%22%5BJournal%5D)">Identification and characterization of GmPDIL7, a soybean ER membrane-bound protein disulfide isomerase family protein.</a> The FEBS Journal. 284 (3), 414-428 (2017).</li>
<li>Kim, D. -R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+mutualistic+interaction+between+Streptomyces+bacteria%2C+strawberry+plants+and+pollinating+bees%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature+Communications%22%5BJournal%5D)">A mutualistic interaction between Streptomyces bacteria, strawberry plants and pollinating bees.</a> Nature Communications. 10 (1), 4802(2019).</li>
<li>Wu, J., Mock, H. -P., Giehl, R. F. H., Pitann, B., Mühling, K. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Silicon+decreases+cadmium+concentrations+by+modulating+root+endodermal+suberin+development+in+wheat+plants%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Journal+of+Hazardous+Materials%22%5BJournal%5D)">Silicon decreases cadmium concentrations by modulating root endodermal suberin development in wheat plants.</a> Journal of Hazardous Materials. 364, 581-590 (2019).</li>
<li>Isoda, M., Oyama, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Use+of+a+duckweed+species%2C+Wolffiella+hyalina%2C+for+whole-plant+observation+of+physiological+behavior+at+the+single-cell+level%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+Biotechnology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Use of a duckweed species, Wolffiella hyalina, for whole-plant observation of physiological behavior at the single-cell level.</a> Plant Biotechnology. 35 (4), 387-391 (2018).</li>
<li>Ben-Targem, M., Ripper, D., Bayer, M., Ragni, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Auxin+and+gibberellin+signaling+cross-talk+promotes+hypocotyl+xylem+expansion+and+cambium+homeostasis%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Journal+of+Experimental+Botany%22%5BJournal%5D)">Auxin and gibberellin signaling cross-talk promotes hypocotyl xylem expansion and cambium homeostasis.</a> Journal of Experimental Botany. 72 (10), 3647-3660 (2021).</li>
<li>Shwartz, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((The+VIL+gene+CRAWLING+ELEPHANT+controls+maturation+and+differentiation+in+tomato+via+polycomb+silencing%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22bioRxiv%22%5BJournal%5D)">The VIL gene CRAWLING ELEPHANT controls maturation and differentiation in tomato via polycomb silencing.</a> bioRxiv. , (2021).</li>
<li>Levin, K. A., Tucker, M. R., Strock, C. F., Lynch, J. P., Mather, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Three-dimensional+imaging+reveals+that+positions+of+cyst+nematode+feeding+sites+relative+to+xylem+vessels+differ+between+susceptible+and+resistant+wheat%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+Cell+Reports%22%5BJournal%5D)">Three-dimensional imaging reveals that positions of cyst nematode feeding sites relative to xylem vessels differ between susceptible and resistant wheat.</a> Plant Cell Reports. 40 (2), 393-403 (2021).</li>
<li>Nouri, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Phosphate+suppression+of+arbuscular+mycorrhizal+symbiosis+involves+gibberellic+acid+signaling%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Plant+and+Cell+Physiology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Phosphate suppression of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis involves gibberellic acid signaling.</a> Plant and Cell Physiology. 62 (6), 959-970 (2021).</li>
<li>Evangelisti, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Artificial+intelligence+enables+the+identification+and+quantification+of+arbuscular+mycorrhizal+fungi+in+plant+roots%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22bioRxiv%22%5BJournal%5D)">Artificial intelligence enables the identification and quantification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in plant roots.</a> bioRxiv. , 434067(2021).</li>
</ol>

ClearSee is commercialized (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, Japan). Nagoya University holds a patent (JP6601842) on the clearing reagent ClearSee. D. Kurihara is the patent inventor. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

This method consists of fixation, washing, and cleaning. Fixation is a critical step in this protocol. If the fluorescent protein is not observed after PFA fixation, it will not be observed after treatment with clearing solution. The penetration of PFA solution into tissues is critical, but high vacuum treatment is not recommended because it can destroy the cell structure. Vacuum conditions and fixation periods should be optimized for each type of tissue and species. It is recommended to check fluorescent proteins even after fixation. Although samples were usually fixed for 30-60 min at room temperature, they can be fixed at 4 &#176;C for a longer time (overnight or more).
As shown in Figure 6A, some sodium deoxycholates had a pale-yellow color when dissolved. Such sodium deoxycholate solutions showed strong autofluorescence in the 400-600 nm region after excitation at 380 nm (Figure 6B). This autofluorescence prevents optical clearing and fluorescence imaging. Users should check the color of sodium deoxycholate solution as the quality of the reagent might differ owing to purity, lot-to-lot variation, or other reasons.
The clearing solutions used here have high concentrations of sodium deoxycholate, which could destroy the membrane structure. The plasma membrane marker (RPS5Apro::tdTomato-LTI6b) was observed even after CS treatment7. However, it might be better to reduce the concentration of sodium deoxycholate, depending on the structure and tissue of interest. Indeed, images with improved clarity were obtained for Arabidopsis pistils with modified CS, in which the concentration of sodium deoxycholate is reduced by half; however, reduced concentrations of sodium deoxycholate required prolonged treatment times (e.g., 1 month for Arabidopsis pistils).
CS can reduce red autofluorescence (&#62;610 nm) to remove chlorophyll in treated samples. However, 500-600 nm range autofluorescence (yellow to orange) remained even in CS-treated samples7. This autofluorescence is thought to be derived from the cell wall and other cellular components, such as lignin12,13. Therefore, it is difficult to make tissues, such as stems with developed secondary walls, completely transparent by CS treatment.
Several clearing reagents besides the ones used here have been developed to observe fluorescent proteins in plants using fluorescent microscopy14,15,16,17. Compared with these methods, CS and CSA remove chlorophyll and reduce autofluorescence, making the plant tissues more transparent. Recently, Sakamoto et al. developed an improved method, iTOMEI, for fixation, detergent clearing, and mounting to adjust the refractive index mismatch18. In Arabidopsis seedlings, iTOMEI cleared the tissue within 26 h.
CS is applicable to a wide range of plant species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Physcomitrium patens7, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Cucumis sativus, Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum, Torenia fournieri8, Allium ochotense19, Astragalus sinicus20, avocado21, barley22, Brassica rapa23, Callitriche24, Eucalyptus25, maize26, Marchantia polymorpha27, Monophyllaea glabra28, Orobanche minor29, petunia30, rice31, Solanum lycopersicum32, soybean33, strawberry34, wheat35, and Wolffiella hyalina36. For thicker tissues, CS can also make the vibratome sections transparent37,38. This method allowed studies of the cellular structure and gene expression patterns in plants37,38. Moreover, nematode infections20,39, fungal infections, and symbiosis19,40,41 were also observed deep inside the CS-treated tissues. Thus, this method is useful for whole tissue imaging from micro- to macro-scales and could help to discover novel interactions among various cells, tissues, organs, and organisms.

Visualization of cellular structures and localization of proteins in living organisms is important for clarifying their functions in vivo. However, since the living body is not transparent, it is challenging to observe the internal structure of living organisms without dissection. Especially, in the case of plant tissues, which are multi-layered with cells of different shapes, the index mismatch caused by their structure and the presence of light-absorbing pigments is problematic. For example, plant leaves have a complex structure that allows them to efficiently utilize the light that enters their bodies for photosynthesis1, whereas the structure also causes refractive index mismatch, making them difficult to observe. However, leaves have many light-absorbing pigments, such as chlorophyll, which emit strong red fluorescence and brownish pigments are produced by oxidation2,3. These pigments also hinder whole-mount fluorescence microscopy observations in plants. Therefore, for observing the internal structure of plants, decolorization and fixation by alcohol and clearing using chloral hydrate have been used for a long time to eliminate the refractive index mismatch and autofluorescence4,5. These conventional methods have been adopted for many years, but they have the drawback of eliminating the fluorescence of fluorescent proteins at the same time6,7. This is problematic since fluorescent proteins have become indispensable in current fluorescent imaging.
Therefore, ClearSee (CS) and ClearSeeAlpha (CSA) have been developed as optical clearing reagents for plant tissues. Both reagents reduce chlorophyll autofluorescence while maintaining the stability of fluorescent proteins7,8. CSA is particularly useful when brown pigments are produced owing to tissue oxidation. Using these clearing reagents, it is possible to observe the cellular structure and protein localization inside the plant body without physical sectioning.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Calcofluor White</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>F3543</td><td>Fluorescent Brightener 28; 100 mg/mL in H2O</td></tr><tr><td>ClearSee</td><td></td><td></td><td>10% (w/v) xylitol, 15% (w/v) sodium deoxycholate, 25% (w/v) urea</td></tr><tr><td>Cover glass (18&amp;times;18 No.1)</td><td>MATSUNAMI</td><td>C018181</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cover glass (24&amp;times;24 No.1)</td><td>MATSUNAMI</td><td>C024241</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cover glass (25&amp;times;60 No.1)</td><td>MATSUNAMI</td><td>C025601</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Desiccator</td><td>AS One</td><td>1-5801-11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hoechst 33342</td><td>DOJINDO</td><td>346-07951</td><td>1 mg/mL in H2O</td></tr><tr><td>Needle</td><td>TERUMO</td><td>NN-2238S</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Parafilm</td><td>Bemis</td><td>PM-996</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paraformaldehyde</td><td>Nacalai Tesque</td><td>26126-25</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Silicone rubber sheet</td><td>AS One</td><td>6-9085-12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate</td><td>Tokyo Chemical Industry</td><td>C0316</td><td>Figure 6_1; Lot PSGYK-QB</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate</td><td>Kishida Chemical</td><td>260-71412</td><td>Figure 6_2; Lot C05543H</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>D6750</td><td>Figure 6_3; Lot SLBS7362</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>30970</td><td>Figure 6_4; Lot BCBW0612</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate</td><td>Nacalai Tesque</td><td>10712-96</td><td>Figure 6_5; Lot M5R3403</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium deoxycholate</td><td>FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical</td><td>194-08311</td><td>Figure 6_6; Lot LKL0648</td></tr><tr><td>Sodium hydroxide</td><td>Nacalai Tesque</td><td>31511-05</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sodium sulphite</td><td>FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical</td><td>190-03411</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Urea</td><td>FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical</td><td>211-01213</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vacuum pump</td><td>BUCHI</td><td>V-700</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Xylitol</td><td>FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical</td><td>248-00545</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

optical clearing of plant tissues for fluorescence imaging

Optical Clearing of Plant Tissues for Fluorescence Imaging

It is challenging to directly observe the internal structure of multi-layered and opaque plant specimens, without dissection, under a microscope. In addition, autofluorescence attributed to chlorophyll hampers the observation of fluorescent proteins in plants. For a long time, various clearing reagents have been used to make plants transparent. However, conventional clearing reagents diminish fluorescent signals; therefore, it has not been possible to observe the cellular and intracellular structures with fluorescent proteins. Reagents were developed that can clear plant tissues by removing chlorophyll while maintaining fluorescent protein stability. A detailed protocol is provided here for the optical clearing of plant tissues using clearing reagents, ClearSee (CS) or ClearSeeAlpha (CSA). The preparation of cleared plant tissues involves three steps: fixation, washing, and clearing. Fixation is a crucial step in maintaining the cellular structures and intracellular stability of fluorescent proteins. The incubation time for clearing depends on the tissue type and species. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the time required for clearing with CS was 4 days for leaves and roots, 7 days for seedlings, and 1 month for pistils. CS also required a relatively short time of 4 days to make the gametophytic leaves of Physcomitrium patens transparent. In contrast, pistils in tobacco and torenia produced brown pigment due to oxidation during CS treatment. CSA reduced the brown pigment by preventing oxidation and could make tobacco and torenia pistils transparent, although it took a relatively long time (1 or 2 months). CS and CSA were also compatible with staining using chemical dyes, such as DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) and Hoechst 33342 for DNA and Calcofluor White, SR2200, and Direct Red 23 for the cell wall. This method can be useful for whole-plant imaging to reveal intact morphology, developmental processes, plant-microbe interactions, and nematode infections.

CS can clear leaves of various species (Figure 3A-H). It is difficult for the CS solution to penetrate a rice leaf because the leaf surface is covered by cuticular wax in this plant. However, after extracting the cuticular wax by dipping in chloroform for 10 s, CS could clear the rice leaves (Figure 3H). CS could not, however, penetrate Chamaecyparis obtusa leaves which are less permeable to CS (Figure 3I,J). In Chrysanthemum leaves, brown pigmentation induced by polyphenol oxidation was observed in the CS-treated leaves (Figure 3K,L). Similarly, Tobacco and torenia pistils showed brown pigmentation during the CS treatment (Figure 3M,O). As the sodium sulfite component in CSA prevents polyphenol oxidation owing to the reducing effect, CSA could clear tobacco and torenia pistils without any brown pigmentation (Figure 3N,P).
Figures 4B shows that CS treatment reduced the pale green color of the Arabidopsis H2B-mClover leaf (bright field) and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of H2B-mClover compared with PBS incubation (Figure 4A). In addition to flowering plants, CS is also applicable to moss plants (Figure 4C); after 4 days of CS treatment, the fluorescence of H2B-mRFP was clearly detected for the entire gametophore with reduced chlorophyll autofluorescence. Figures 4D,E show 3D reconstruction images of the H2B-mClover pistil in Nicotiana benthamiana cleared using CSA. The sample depth was 440 µm. As the depth-coded maximum intensity projection image shows, CSA allows for deep imaging of challenging tissues, such as tobacco pistils.
CS and CSA were also compatible with fluorescent dye staining. Figure 5 shows that CS could simultaneously be used to observe the fluorescent protein (H2B-mClover) and organic fluorescent dye staining (Calcofluor White). After 3D reconstruction from the z-stack images, any section could be observed.
<img alt="Leaf morphology and anatomy, microscopy images, educational botany study, diverse leaf shapes." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig03.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788282455000" data-alt="Figure 3"> 
Figure 3: Optical clearing of leaves and pistils using clearing solutions. (A-L) Fixed leaves of various species were incubated in PBS (A,C,E,G,I,K) or CS (B,D,F,H,J,L) for 8 days and CS (M,O) or CSA (N,P) for 2 days. (A,B,O,P) Torenia fournieri, (C,D) Nicotiana tabacum, (E,F) Cucumis sativus, (G,H) Oryza sativa, (I,J) Chamaecyparis obtusa, (K,L) Chrysanthemum morifolium, (M,N) Nicotiana benthamiana. Scale bars: 1 cm. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig03large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Bright field and fluorescence microscopy of plant cells showing autofluorescence and H2B-mClover/mRFP." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig04.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788282455000" data-alt="Figure 4"> 
Figure 4: Fluorescence imaging of tissues treated with clearing solutions. (A,B) UBQ10pro::H2B-mClover leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana were treated with PBS (A) or CS (B) for 3 days. (C) H2B-mRFP leafy gametophores of Physcomitrium patens were treated with CS for 4 days. The nuclei were labeled with H2B-mRFP (green). The CS treatment reduced chlorophyll autofluorescence (magenta). The H2B-mRFP signal in the apical region was clearly observed for both merged images of H2B-mRFP and autofluorescence or bright field. (D,E) The UBQ10pro::H2B-mClover stigma of Nicotiana benthamiana was treated in CSA for 1 month. Maximum-intensity projection (D) and depth-coded maximum-intensity projection (E) were generated from 88 z-stack images at 5 µm intervals. Scale bars: 100 µm. Images were taken using wide-field (A,B), confocal (C), and two-photon excitation (D,E) microscopy. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig04large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Confocal microscopy image; cell structure in cross-sectional diagram." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig05.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788282455000" data-alt="Figure 5"> 
Figure 5: Fluorescent dye staining is compatible with CS. (A) CS-treated leaves observed by two-photon excitation microscopy with 950 nm excitation. Cell wall is stained with Calcofluor White (cyan). Nuclei are labeled with UBQ10pro::H2B-mClover (yellow). The yz (B) and xz (C) images are cross-sections at the position indicated by the white dashed lines in (A). Scale bar: 100 µm. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig05large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Fluorescence spectra analysis; centrifuge tubes and graph showing intensity vs wavelength." class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig06.jpg" data-altupdatedat="1788282455000" data-alt="Figure 6"> 
Figure 6: Transparency of sodium deoxycholate. (A) Colors of various 15% sodium deoxycholates (listed in Table of Materials). (B) Fluorescence spectrum of each 15% sodium deoxycholate with 380 nm excitation. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/63428/63428fig06large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

Here, a method is described for making plant tissues transparent while maintaining the stability of fluorescent proteins. This technique facilitates deep imaging of cleared plant tissues without physical sectioning.

It is challenging to directly observe the internal structure of multi-layered and opaque plant specimens, without dissection, under a microscope. In ...

optical-clearing-of-plant-tissues-for-fluorescence-imaging

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Multiphoton microscopy of whole mouse organs is possible by optically clearing the organ before imaging, but not all protocols preserve the fluorescent signal of fluorescent proteins.  Using an optical clearing method with ethanol-based dehydration and benzyl alcohol:benzyl benzoate clearing, we show high-resolution multiphoton images of whole mouse brain expressing YFP.

Multiphoton Microscopy of Cleared Mouse Brain Expressing YFP

To obtain high-resolution images of fluorescently labeled cells within large tissues, ideally, the biological samples should be imaged without sectioning. 3DISCO is a straightforward tissue clearing procedure based on sequential incubation with organic solvents. Upon clearing, the organs become transparent allowing an end-to-end laser scan of the specimen.

Imaging Cleared Intact Biological Systems at a Cellular Level by 3DISCO

Optical clearing techniques are revolutionizing the way tissues are visualized. In this report we describe modifications of the original Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridized Rigid Imaging-compatible Tissue-hYdrogel (CLARITY) protocol that yields more consistent and less expensive results.

Optical Clearing of the Mouse Central Nervous System Using Passive CLARITY

In this protocol, we describe techniques for the proper dissection of Arabidopsis flowers and siliques, some basic clearing techniques, and selected staining procedures for whole-mount observations of reproductive structures.

Whole-mount Clearing and Staining of Arabidopsis Flower Organs and Siliques

The combination of antibody labeling, optical clearing, and advanced light microscopy allows three-dimensional analysis of complete structures or organs. Described here is a simple method to combine immunolabeling of thick kidney slices, optical clearing with ethyl cinnamate, and confocal imaging that enables visualization and quantification of three-dimensional kidney structures.

Optical Clearing and Imaging of Immunolabeled Kidney Tissue

Tumor spheroids are becoming increasingly utilized to assess tumor cell-microenvironment interactions and therapy response. The present protocol describes a robust but simple method for semi-high-throughput imaging of 3D tumor spheroids using rapid optical clearing.

Rapid Optical Clearing for Semi-High-Throughput Analysis of Tumor Spheroids

The present protocol describes a clearing technique for rice shoots, which are difficult to prepare for internal structural observations owing to the hard, thick, or layered nature of the tissues. This method facilitates continuous and deep fluorescence observations, even in adult rice plants.

Deep Fluorescence Observation in Rice Shoots via Clearing Technology

The present protocol describes an optimized method for the histological observation of galls induced by Plasmodiophora brassicae. Vibratome sections of hypocotyls are cleared before fluorescence imaging to study the involvement of transcription factors and phytohormones during disease progression. This protocol overcomes resin embedding limitations, enabling in planta visualization of fluorescent proteins.

Combining Clearing and Fluorescence Microscopy for Visualising Changes in Gene Expression and Physiological Responses to Plasmodiophora brassicae

Maize leaf primordia are deeply ensheathed and rolled, making them difficult to study. Here, we present methods for preparing transverse sections and unrolled whole mounts of maize leaf primordia for fluorescence and confocal imaging.

Improved Methods for Preparing Transverse Sections and Unrolled Whole Mounts of Maize Leaf Primordia for Fluorescence and Confocal Imaging

The present protocol provides a step-by-step procedure for rapid and simultaneous optical clearing, muti-round labeling, and 3D volumetric reconstruction of tens of postmortem human brain sections by combining the (SWITCH - H2O2 - Antigen Retrieval - 2,2'-thiodiethanol [TDE]) SHORT tissue transformation technique with light-sheet fluorescence microscopy imaging in a routinely high-throughput protocol.

Optical Clearing and Labeling for Light-sheet Fluorescence Microscopy in Large-scale Human Brain Imaging

Optical clearing techniques, such as absorbing molecules solutions, reduce light scattering temporarily to enhance biological imaging and offer biocompatible, reversible in vivo imaging strategies for deeply embedded organs. This protocol presents detailed experimental procedures as well as advanced image processing to achieve high-quality, dynamic imaging for real-time dynamics in living animals.

Transient Optical Clearing Using Absorbing Molecules for Ex Vivo and In Vivo Imaging

Learn optical clearing of plant tissues for fluorescence imaging using vacuum-assisted fixation and ClearSee solutions. This method enables deep imaging of Arabidopsis thaliana without physical sectioning.

Optical Clearing of Plant Tissues for Fluorescence Imaging

Explore More Videos