Peroxisomes visualized via peroxisomal membrane protein PMP34

A. Z-stack

B. Timelapse

Figures. Z-stack and timelapse movies of peroxisomes. A) Z-stack of a live hiPS cell colony expressing mEGFP-tagged peroxisomal membrane protein PMP34 imaged in 3D on a spinning-disk confocal microscope. Movie starts at the bottom of the cells and ends at the top. Scale bar = 5 µm. B) Timelapse movie of a live hiPS cell colony expressing mEGFP-tagged peroxisomal membrane protein PMP34. Cells were imaged on a spinning-disk confocal microscope every 1s. Movie sped up 10x real time. Images are shown with the despeckle ImageJ filter applied. Scale bar = 5 µm.
 
Observations

• Peroxisomal membrane protein PMP34 localizes to peroxisomes, which are membrane-bound organelles that play a role in metabolism and in detoxifying hydrogen peroxide and other harmful substances in the cell.
• In hiPS cells, peroxisomes are located throughout the cytoplasm in small puncta less than 100 nm in diameter. Two different types of movement are seen, small random movement within a confined area, and longer-range directed movement, likely along microtubules.  
• ​Peroxisomes do not noticeably change their morphology and distribution during cell division.