Imaging cellular ultrastructures using expansion microscopy (U-ExM). (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gambarotto, Davide; Zwettler, Fabian; Le Guennec, Maeva; Schmidt-Cernohorska, Marketa; Fortun, Denis; Borgers, Susanne; Heine, Jörn; Schloetel, Jan-Gero; Reuss, Matthias; Unser, Michael; Boyden, Edward; Sauer, Markus; Hamel, Virginie; Guichard, Paul
• Is Part Of: Nature methods. Volume 16:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 74
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Life sciences -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; 570.72
• DOI: 10.1038/s41592-018-0238-1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1548-7091

Abstract

Abstract Determining the structure and composition of macromolecular assemblies is a major challenge in biology. Here we describe ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM), an extension of expansion microscopy that allows the visualization of preserved ultrastructures by optical microscopy. This method allows for near-native expansion of diverse structures in vitro and in cells; when combined with super-resolution microscopy, it unveiled details of ultrastructural organization, such as centriolar chirality, that could otherwise be observed only by electron microscopy. U-ExM enables near-native expansion microscopy of samples in vitro and in cells. The combination of U-ExM with confocal microscopy and HyVolution revealed details of centriole chirality that were previously accessible only by electron microscopy.