Tracking Receptor Localisation and Signaling
von Leo Schroeder
CQ1 meets Celigo
In a recent study, a team led by Claudia Stäubert investigated how the succinate receptor (SUCNR1) adapts signaling depending on its location within the cell and the cell’s metabolic state. This receptor has been associated with both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, but its specific role has remained unclear. The team aimed to understand how the location of SUCNR1 within the cell impacts its function, and how different energy sources such as glucose or glutamine influence downstream responses (read the full publication here).
To do this, they combined several techniques with the CQ1 confocal imaging system from Yokogawa, which was essential for visualizing and quantifying receptor dynamics. This allowed the team to:
- Track the movement of the succinate receptor between the cell surface and internal compartments, such as endosomes.
- Quantify receptor co-localization with cellular markers, revealing that glutamine-driven metabolism increased receptor internalization, whereas glucose promoted surface localization. This shift changed how the receptor interacted with different signaling partners, impacting the cell’s response to succinate.
- Visualize differing protein recruitment and receptor signaling depending on the location of the receptor.
- Assess receptor expression and metabolic regulation in immune cells.
Figure: Subcellular localization analyses revealed the co‐localization of early endosome antigen 1 (EEA‐1) with SUCNR1. Confocal images of transiently SUCNR1‐mRuby (red) transfected HEK293‐T cells, stained with anti‐EEA1 antibody (AlexaFluor488 goat anti‐rabbit, green). Source: Liebing et al., 2025
Combining Confocal and Cytometric Imaging for Comprehensive Functional Analysis
To complement these high-resolution confocal images, the team also used the Celigo Imaging Cytometer to quantify protein expression using fluorescence. This approach highlights again the synergy between Celigo and CQ1, which was previously covered in this blog post.
Overall, by combining confocal imaging and functional assays, the study revealed that SUCNR1 acts in a context-sensitive manner, changing its function based on metabolic conditions and subcellular localization. Real-time tracking of receptor expression, location and signaling, paired with robust quantification, highlights how technologies such as the CQ1 and Celigo are enabling researchers to better understand complex cellular dynamics.
