Non-contact intracellular binding of chloroplasts in vivo.

Yuchao Li,Hongbao Xin,Baojun Li,Xiaoshuai Liu

doi:10.1038/srep10925

Abstract

Non-contact intracellular binding and controllable manipulation of chloroplasts in vivo was demonstrated using an optical fiber probe. Launching a 980-nm laser beam into a fiber, which was placed about 3 μm above the surface of a living plant (Hydrilla verticillata) leaf, enabled stable binding of different numbers of chloroplasts, as well as their arrangement into one-dimensional chains and two-dimensional arrays inside the leaf without damaging the chloroplasts. Additionally, the formed chloroplast chains were controllably transported inside the living cells. The optical force exerted on the chloroplasts was calculated to explain the experimental results. This method provides a flexible method for studying intracellular organelle interaction with highly organized organelle-organelle contact in vivo in a non-contact manner.

Highlights

Limitations resulting from their complicated and expensive steering devices and optical systems
We report a non-contact optical method for intracellular binding of chloroplasts and formation of chloroplast chains in a living plant leaf using an optical fiber probes (OFPs)
The tapered end of the fiber was aslant placed above a plant leaf, and manipulated by a six-axis microstage (SAM) with a precision of 50 nm

Summary

Introduction

Limitations resulting from their complicated and expensive steering devices (galvo mirrors, acousto-optic deflectors, spatial light modulators) and optical systems (microscope objectives). Optical fiber-based optical tweezers have been demonstrated[33,34,35] to be suitable for biological manipulation and optical binding[28,36,37]. When compared with the optical tweezers, optical fiber probes (OFPs) are more miniaturized, handy, and simpler to operate.

Results

Discussion

Conclusion