Visualizing subcellular rearrangements in intact β cells using soft x-ray tomography.

ABSTRACT: Characterizing relationships between cell structures and functions requires mesoscale mapping of intact cells showing subcellular rearrangements following stimulation; however, current approaches are limited in this regard. Here, we report a unique application of soft x-ray tomography to generate three-dimensional reconstructions of whole pancreatic β cells at different time points following glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Reconstructions following stimulation showed distinct insulin vesicle distribution patterns reflective of altered vesicle pool sizes as they travel through the secretory pathway. Our results show that glucose stimulation caused rapid changes in biochemical composition and/or density of insulin packing, increased mitochondrial volume, and closer proximity of insulin

SUBMITTER: White KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7725475 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature