Light microscopy of proteins in their ultrastructural context
Ons M’Saad, Joerg Bewersdorf
Abstract
Resolving the distribution of specific proteins at the nanoscale in the ultrastructural context of the cell is a major challenge in fluorescence microscopy. We report the discovery of a new principle for an optical contrast equivalent to electron microscopy (EM) which reveals the ultrastructural context of the cells with a conventional confocal microscope. By decrowding the intracellular space through 13 to 21-fold physical expansion while simultaneously retaining the proteins, bulk (pan) labeling of the proteome resolves local protein densities and reveals the cellular nanoarchitecture by standard light microscopy.
Topics & Concepts
UltrastructureMicroscopyContext (archaeology)Electron microscopeFluorescence microscopeConfocal microscopyProteomeConfocalBiophysicsIntracellularChemistryCell biologyBiologyFluorescencePhysicsOpticsAnatomyBiochemistryPaleontologyAdvanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and ApplicationsForce Microscopy Techniques and ApplicationsAdvanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques