同步辐射X射线显微成像技术在细胞生物学中的应用

The applications in cell biology of the synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy

生命科学研究很大程度上依赖于对细胞这一微观世界的观察与探索。细胞显微成像技术的进步贯穿着细胞生物学发展的始终,是生命科学领域的主要推动力之一。基于同步辐射光源的X射线显微成像技术具有高分辨率、样品制备简单、能在接近自然状态下对细胞的精细结构进行三维展示等优势,从而被认为是一类与光学成像、电镜成像互补的新型细胞成像技术。扼要介绍同步辐射X射线显微成像的基本情况,重点阐述了同步辐射X射线显微成像技术在细胞形态及结构、细胞内元素分布等研究方面的最新进展,指出进一步研究应重点发展的方向。

Life science research relies heavily on observation and exploration of the microscopic world of cells. Microscopic imaging technology has been advancing throughout the development of cell biology, which is one of the mainsprings of the life sciences field. The X-ray imaging technique based on synchrotron radiation has some advantages, such as high-resolution, simple sample preparation and three-dimensional display of the fine structure of the cells closed to the natural state, which is considered to be a class of imaging technology complemented of optical imaging and electron microscopy imaging. This paper briefly introduces the basic situation of the synchrotron radiation X-ray microscopy, and focuses on the latest research advances in cell morphology and structure, intracellular distribution of elements using the synchrotron radiation X-ray microscopy technology. And at last, the focused direction of development in further studies is pointed out.