title: Label-free imaging of lipid depositions in C. elegans using third-harmonic generation microscopy.
abstract: Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms regulating lipid storage and metabolism is essential for mitigating excess adiposity and obesity, which has been associated with increased prevalence of severe pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disorders and type II diabetes, worldwide. However, imaging fatty acid distribution and dynamics in vivo, at the cellular or organismal level is challenging. We developed a label-free method for visualizing lipid depositions in vivo, based on third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy. THG imaging requires a single pulsed-laser light source, alleviating the technical challenges of implementing coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy (CARS) to detect fat stores in living cells. We demonstrate that THG can be used to efficiently and reliably visualize lipid droplets in Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, THG microscopy offers a versatile alternative to fluorescence and dye-based approaches for lipid biology research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece ; Physics Department, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tserevelakis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Evgenia V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Megalou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippidis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece ; Physics Department, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petanidou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece ; Physics Department, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fotakis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece ; Medical School, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavernarakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids