Dehydration of plant cells shoves nuclei rotation allowing for 3D phase-contrast tomography

• DOI: 10.1038/s41377-021-00626-2
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15T11:03:38Z
• Authors: Zhe Wang; Vittorio Bianco; Daniele Pirone; Pasquale Memmolo; Massimiliano Mari...; Pier Luca Maffettone; Pietro Ferraro
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; plants; holography; Applied optics. Photonics; QC350-467; tomography; Optics. Light; Article; TA1501-1820

Abstract Single-cell phase-contrast tomography promises to become decisive for studying 3D intracellular structures in biology. It involves probing cells with light at wide angles, which unfortunately requires complex systems. Here we show an intriguing concept based on inherent natural process plants biology, i.e., dehydration, allowing us easily obtain 3D-tomography of onion-epidermal cells’ nuclei. In fact, the loss water reduces turgor pressure and recognize it induces significant rotation Thanks holographic focusing flexibility ad-hoc angles’ tracking algorithm, combine different views nuclei retrieve their refractive index distribution. Nucleolus identification capability a strategy measuring morphology, dry mass, biovolume, statistics are reported discussed. This new could revolutionize investigation plant biology by enabling dynamic quantitative label-free analysis sub-nuclear level using conventional setup.