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

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.

SUBMITTER: Gambarotto D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6314451 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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

Gambarotto Davide D Zwettler Fabian U FU Le Guennec Maeva M Schmidt-Cernohorska Marketa M Fortun Denis D Borgers Susanne S Heine Jörn J Schloetel Jan-Gero JG Reuss Matthias M Unser Michael M Boyden Edward S ES Sauer Markus M Hamel Virginie V Guichard Paul P

Nature methods 20181217 1

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 chira ...[more]

PMID: 30559430

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