title: Quantitative 3D elemental microtomography of Cyclotella meneghiniana at 400-nm resolution.
abstract: X-ray fluorescence tomography promises to map elemental distributions in unstained and unfixed biological specimens in three dimensions at high resolution and sensitivity, offering unparalleled insight in medical, biological, and environmental sciences. X-ray fluorescence tomography of biological specimens has been viewed as impractical-and perhaps even impossible for routine application-due to the large time required for scanning tomography and significant radiation dose delivered to the specimen during the imaging process. Here, we demonstrate submicron resolution X-ray fluorescence tomography of a whole unstained biological specimen, quantifying three-dimensional distributions of the elements Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn in the freshwater diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana with 400-nm resolution, improving the spatial resolution by over an order of magnitude. The resulting maps faithfully reproduce cellular structure revealing unexpected patterns that may elucidate the role of metals in diatom biology and of diatoms in global element cycles. With anticipated improvements in data acquisition and detector sensitivity, such measurements could become routine in the near future.
authors: Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Australia. martin.dejonge@synchrotron.org.au
authors: Martin D
authors: MD
authors: de Jonge
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Holzner
authors: Stephen B
authors: SB
authors: Baines
authors: Benjamin S
authors: BS
authors: Twining
authors: Konstantin
authors: K
authors: Ignatyev
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Diaz
authors: Daryl L
authors: DL
authors: Howard
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Legnini
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Miceli
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: McNulty
authors: Chris J
authors: CJ
authors: Jacobsen
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Vogt
mesh_terms: D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005453:Fluorescence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements