A Universal Approach to Analyzing Transmission Electron Microscopy with ImageJ

Jacob Lam; Prasanna Katti; Michelle Biete; Margaret Mungai; Salma AshShareef; Kit Neikirk; Edgar Garza Lopez; Zer Vue; Trace A. Christensen; Heather K. Beasley; Taylor A. Rodman; Sandra A. Murray; Jeffrey L. Salisbury; Brian Glancy; Jianqiang Shao; Renata O. Pereira; E. Dale Abel; Antentor Hinton

doi:10.3390/cells10092177

Cells (Aug 2021)

A Universal Approach to Analyzing Transmission Electron Microscopy with ImageJ

Jacob Lam,
Prasanna Katti,
Michelle Biete,
Margaret Mungai,
Salma AshShareef,
Kit Neikirk,
Edgar Garza Lopez,
Zer Vue,
Trace A. Christensen,
Heather K. Beasley,
Taylor A. Rodman,
Sandra A. Murray,
Jeffrey L. Salisbury,
Brian Glancy,
Jianqiang Shao,
Renata O. Pereira,
E. Dale Abel,
Antentor Hinton

Affiliations

Jacob Lam: Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Prasanna Katti: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Michelle Biete: Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Margaret Mungai: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, 142 Weill Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Salma AshShareef: Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Kit Neikirk: Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili St, Hilo, HI 96720, USA
Edgar Garza Lopez: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
Zer Vue: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
Trace A. Christensen: Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core Facility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Heather K. Beasley: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
Taylor A. Rodman: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
Sandra A. Murray: Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
Jeffrey L. Salisbury: Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core Facility, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
Brian Glancy: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Jianqiang Shao: Central Microscopy Research Facility, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Renata O. Pereira: Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
E. Dale Abel: Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Antentor Hinton: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10092177
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 9
p. 2177

Abstract

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Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is widely used as an imaging modality to provide high-resolution details of subcellular components within cells and tissues. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are organelles of particular interest to those investigating metabolic disorders. A straightforward method for quantifying and characterizing particular aspects of these organelles would be a useful tool. In this protocol, we outline how to accurately assess the morphology of these important subcellular structures using open source software ImageJ, originally developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Specifically, we detail how to obtain mitochondrial length, width, area, and circularity, in addition to assessing cristae morphology and measuring mito/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interactions. These procedures provide useful tools for quantifying and characterizing key features of sub-cellular morphology, leading to accurate and reproducible measurements and visualizations of mitochondria and ER.

Published in Cells

ISSN: 2073-4409 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Cytology
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells

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