From single bacterial cell imaging towards in vivo single-molecule biochemistry studies. Issue 2 (13th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Endesfelder, Ulrike
• Editors: Szczelkun, Mark
• Is Part Of: Essays in biochemistry. Volume 63:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 187
• Page End: 196
• Publication Date: 2019-06-13
• Subjects: advanced fluorescence microscopy -- bacterial cell imaging -- imaging technology in microbiology -- single-molecule imaging and tracking; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1042/EBC20190002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0071-1365

Abstract

Abstract : Bacteria as single-cell organisms are important model systems to study cellular mechanisms and functions. In recent years and with the help of advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques, immense progress has been made in characterizing and quantifying the behavior of single bacterial cells on the basis of molecular interactions and assemblies in the complex environment of live cultures. Importantly, single-molecule imaging enables the in vivo determination of the stoichiometry and molecular architecture of subcellular structures, yielding detailed, quantitative, spatiotemporally resolved molecular maps and unraveling dynamic heterogeneities and subpopulations on the subcellular level. Nevertheless, open challenges remain. Here, we review the past and current status of the field, discuss example applications and give insights into future trends.