Speaker
Description
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the common energy carrier for all living systems and is essential for cell metabolism and RNA synthesis. It is constantly converted between ATP and ADP (adenosine diphosphate) form and hence the ATP:ADP is an important indicator for energy balance of the cells. Using microfluidic cell culture with an ATP fluorescence biosensor, we measured the long-term ATP dynamics for E. coli cells for multiple days. We found that intracellular ATP level is coupled with bacterial cell cycle, and the ATP oscillation is attenuated in the absence of overflow metabolism. Using another ATP:ADP fluorescence biosensor, we measured how starvation of cells causes gradual decreases of ATP:ADP ratio. Overall, single-cell microscopy reveals detail regulation and dynamical pattern of cell growth and metabolism.
