Research

Three-dimensional reconstruction of cell nuclei, internalized quantum dots and sites of lipid peroxidation

W Robert J Funnell^1* and Dusica Maysinger^2*

¹  Departments of BioMedical Engineering and Otolaryngology, McGill University, 3775 rue University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada

²  Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2006, 4:10doi:10.1186/1477-3155-4-10

Published:	20 October 2006

Abstract

Background

The purpose of the study was to develop and illustrate three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of nuclei and intracellular lipid peroxidation in cells exposed to oxidative stress induced by quantum dots. Programmed cell death is characterized by multiple biochemical and morphological changes in different organelles, including nuclei, mitochondria and lysosomes. It is the dynamics of the spatio-temporal changes in the signalling and morphological adaptations which will ultimately determine the 'shape' and fate of the cell.

Results

We present new approaches to the 3-D reconstruction of organelle morphology and biochemical changes in confocal live-cell images. We demonstrate the 3-D shapes of nuclei, the 3-D intracellular distributions of QDs and the accompanying lipid-membrane peroxidation, and provide methods for quantification.

Conclusion

This study provides an approach to 3-D organelle and nanoparticle visualization in the context of cell death; however, this approach is also applicable more generally to investigating changes in organelle morphology in response to therapeutic interventions, stressful stimuli and internalized nanoparticles. Moreover, the approach provides quantitative data for such changes, which will help us to better integrate compartmentalization of subcellular events and to link morphological and biochemical changes with physiological outcomes.