@article {70129, title = {Alternating Angle Milling Suppresses Streaking Artifacts in FIB-SEM Imaging}, journal = {bioRxiv}, year = {2025}, month = {2025 Sep 26}, abstract = {

Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) (1{\textendash}3) has been used in life sciences to produce large volumetric datasets with high resolution information on ultrastructure of biological organisms. 3D image acquisition is accomplished by serial removal of thin layers of material using focused ion beam (FIB) milling followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging.One of the challenges in the standard FIB-SEM imaging protocol is that FIB milling results in characteristic artifacts, known as {\textquotedblleft}streaks{\textquotedblright} or {\textquotedblleft}curtains{\textquotedblright}. These streaks are caused by non-uniform material removal forming long straight trenches parallel to the FIB milling direction. These artifacts get worse along the milling direction and ultimately limit size of the SEM field of view.Various methods have been proposed to mitigate the streaks in acquired images. While these techniques often provide noticeable visual improvement, the underlying problem remains. The structural information in the {\textquotedblleft}streaked{\textquotedblright} areas is lost due to non-uniform material removal during milling and cannot be fully recovered.We propose a simple modification allowing for a significant reduction of milling non-uniformities of streaks. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach on various samples.

}, doi = {10.1101/2025.09.25.678572}, url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2025/09/26/2025.09.25.678572}, author = {Shtengel, Gleb and Qiu, Wei and Aaron, Jesse and Crowe, Arthur S. and Polilov, Alexey A. and Karkali, Katerina and Bleck, Christopher K.E. and Hess, Harald H.} } @article {69812, title = {Vimentin filament transport and organization revealed by single-particle tracking and 3D FIB-SEM}, journal = {Journal of Cell Biology}, volume = {224}, year = {2025}, month = {2025 Apr 03}, pages = {e202406054}, abstract = {

Vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs) form complex, tightly packed networks; due to this density, traditional imaging approaches cannot discern single-filament behavior. To address this, we developed and validated a sparse vimentin-SunTag labeling strategy, enabling single-particle tracking of individual VIFs and providing a sensitive, unbiased, and quantitative method for measuring global VIF motility. Using this approach, we define the steady-state VIF motility rate, showing a constant \~{}8\% of VIFs undergo directed microtubule-based motion irrespective of subcellular location or local filament density. Significantly, our single-particle tracking approach revealed uncorrelated motion of individual VIFs within bundles, an observation seemingly at odds with conventional models of tightly cross-linked bundles. To address this, we acquired high-resolution focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy volumes of vitreously frozen cells and reconstructed three-dimensional VIF bundles, finding that they form only loosely organized, semi-coherent structures from which single VIFs frequently emerge to locally engage neighboring microtubules. Overall, this work demonstrates single VIF dynamics and organization in the cellular milieu for the first time.

bioRxiv Preprint:\ https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.06.10.598346

}, issn = {0021-9525}, doi = {10.1083/jcb.202406054}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202406054}, author = {Renganathan, Bhuvanasundar and Moore, Andrew S. and Yeo, Wei-Hong and Petruncio, Alyson and Ackerman, David and Weigel, Aubrey V. and Team, The CellMap and Pasolli, H. Amalia and Xu, C. Shan and Shtengel, Gleb and Hess, Harald F. and Serpinskaya, Anna S. and Zhang, Hao F. and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer and Gelfand, Vladimir I.} } @article {69351, title = {COPII with ALG2 and ESCRTs control lysosome-dependent microautophagy of ER exit sites.}, journal = {Dev Cell}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 Apr 06}, abstract = {

Endoplasmic reticulum exit sites (ERESs) are tubular outgrowths of endoplasmic reticulum that serve as the earliest station for protein sorting and export into the secretory pathway. How these structures respond to different cellular conditions remains unclear. Here, we report that ERESs undergo lysosome-dependent microautophagy when Ca\ is released by lysosomes in response to nutrient stressors such as mTOR inhibition or amino acid starvation in mammalian cells. Targeting and uptake of ERESs into lysosomes were observed\ by\ super-resolution live-cell imaging and focus ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). The mechanism\ was ESCRT dependent and required\ ubiquitinated SEC31, ALG2, and ALIX, with a knockout of ALG2 or function-blocking mutations of ALIX preventing engulfment of ERESs by lysosomes. In\ vitro, reconstitution of the pathway was possible using lysosomal lipid-mimicking giant unilamellar vesicles and purified recombinant components. Together, these findings demonstrate a pathway of lysosome-dependent ERES microautophagy mediated by COPII, ALG2, and ESCRTS induced by nutrient stress.

}, issn = {1878-1551}, doi = {10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.027}, author = {Liao, Ya-Cheng and Pang, Song and Li, Wei-Ping and Shtengel, Gleb and Choi, Heejun and Schaefer, Kathy and Xu, C Shan and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer} } @article {69169, title = {Motion of VAPB molecules reveals ER-mitochondria contact site subdomains.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {626}, year = {2024}, month = {2024 Jan 24}, pages = {169-176}, abstract = {

To coordinate cellular physiology, eukaryotic cells rely on the rapid exchange of molecules at specialized organelle-organelle contact sites. Endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial contact sites (ERMCSs) are particularly vital communication hubs, playing key roles in the exchange of signalling molecules, lipids and metabolites. ERMCSs are maintained by interactions between complementary tethering molecules on the surface of each organelle. However, due to the extreme sensitivity of these membrane interfaces to experimental perturbation, a clear understanding of their nanoscale organization and regulation is still lacking. Here we combine three-dimensional electron microscopy with high-speed molecular tracking of a model organelle tether, Vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-associated protein B (VAPB), to map the structure and diffusion landscape of ERMCSs. We uncovered dynamic subdomains within VAPB contact sites that correlate with ER membrane curvature and undergo rapid remodelling. We show that VAPB molecules enter and leave ERMCSs within seconds, despite the contact site itself remaining stable over much longer time scales. This metastability allows ERMCSs to remodel with changes in the physiological environment to accommodate metabolic needs of the cell. An amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated mutation in VAPB perturbs these subdomains, likely impairing their remodelling capacity and resulting in impaired interorganelle communication. These results establish high-speed single-molecule imaging as a new tool for mapping the structure of contact site interfaces and reveal that the diffusion landscape of VAPB at contact sites is a crucial component of ERMCS homeostasis.

}, keywords = {Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Humans, Mitochondria, Mitochondrial Membranes, Signal Transduction, Vesicular Transport Proteins}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-023-06956-y}, author = {Obara, Christopher J and Nixon-Abell, Jonathon and Moore, Andrew S and Riccio, Federica and Hoffman, David P and Shtengel, Gleb and Xu, C Shan and Schaefer, Kathy and Pasolli, H Amalia and Masson, Jean-Baptiste and Hess, Harald F and Calderon, Christopher P and Blackstone, Craig and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer} } @article {68020, title = {ESCRT-mediated membrane repair protects tumor-derived cells against T cell attack.}, journal = {Science}, volume = {376}, year = {2022}, month = {2022 Apr 22}, pages = {377-382}, abstract = {

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells kill virus-infected and tumor cells through the polarized release of perforin and granzymes. Perforin is a pore-forming toxin that creates a lesion in the plasma membrane of the target cell through which granzymes enter the cytosol and initiate apoptosis. Endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) proteins are involved in the repair of small membrane wounds. We found that ESCRT proteins were precisely recruited in target cells to sites of CTL engagement immediately after perforin release. Inhibition of ESCRT machinery in cancer-derived cells enhanced their susceptibility to CTL-mediated killing. Thus, repair of perforin pores by ESCRT machinery limits granzyme entry into the cytosol, potentially enabling target cells to resist cytolytic attack.

}, keywords = {Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport, Granzymes, Membrane Glycoproteins, Perforin, Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins, T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic}, issn = {1095-9203}, doi = {10.1126/science.abl3855}, author = {Ritter, Alex T and Shtengel, Gleb and Xu, C Shan and Weigel, Aubrey and Hoffman, David P and Freeman, Melanie and Iyer, Nirmala and Alivodej, Nensi and Ackerman, David and Voskoboinik, Ilia and Trapani, Joseph and Hess, Harald F and Mellman, Ira} } @article {67233, title = {ER-to-Golgi protein delivery through an interwoven, tubular network extending from ER.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {184}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 Apr 29}, pages = {2412}, abstract = {

Cellular versatility depends on accurate trafficking of diverse proteins to their organellar destinations. For the secretory pathway (followed by approximately 30\% of all proteins), the physical nature of the vessel conducting the first portage (endoplasmic reticulum [ER] to Golgi apparatus) is unclear. We provide a dynamic 3D view of early secretory compartments in mammalian cells with isotropic resolution and precise protein localization using whole-cell, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy with cryo-structured illumination microscopy and live-cell synchronized cargo release approaches. Rather than vesicles alone, the ER spawns an elaborate, interwoven tubular network of contiguous lipid bilayers (ER exit site) for protein export. This receptacle is capable of extending microns along microtubules while still connected to the ER by a thin neck. COPII localizes to this neck region and dynamically regulates cargo entry from the ER, while COPI acts more distally, escorting the detached, accelerating tubular entity on its way to joining the Golgi apparatus through microtubule-directed movement.

}, issn = {1097-4172}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2021.03.035}, author = {Weigel, Aubrey V and Chang, Chi-Lun and Shtengel, Gleb and Xu, C Shan and Hoffman, David P and Freeman, Melanie and Iyer, Nirmala and Aaron, Jesse and Khuon, Satya and Bogovic, John and Qiu, Wei and Hess, Harald F and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer} } @article {67753, title = {An open-access volume electron microscopy atlas of whole cells and tissues.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {599}, year = {2021}, month = {2021 Nov 1}, pages = {147-51}, abstract = {

Understanding cellular architecture is essential for understanding biology. Electron microscopy (EM) uniquely visualizes cellular structures with nanometre resolution. However, traditional methods, such as thin-section EM or EM tomography, have limitations in that they visualize only a single slice or a relatively small volume of the cell, respectively. Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) has demonstrated the ability to image small volumes of cellular samples with 4-nm isotropic voxels. Owing to advances in the\ precision and stability of FIB milling, together with enhanced signal detection and faster SEM scanning, we have increased the volume that can be imaged with 4-nm\ voxels by two orders of magnitude. Here we present a volume EM atlas at such resolution comprising ten three-dimensional datasets for whole cells and tissues, including cancer cells, immune cells, mouse pancreatic islets and Drosophila neural tissues. These open access data (via OpenOrganelle) represent the foundation of a field of high-resolution whole-cell volume EM and subsequent analyses, and we invite researchers to explore this atlas and\ pose questions.

}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-021-03992-4}, author = {Xu, C Shan and Pang, Song and Shtengel, Gleb and M{\"u}ller, Andreas and Ritter, Alex T and Hoffman, Huxley K and Takemura, Shin-ya and Lu, Zhiyuan and Pasolli, H Amalia and Iyer, Nirmala and Chung, Jeeyun and Bennett, Davis and Weigel, Aubrey V and Freeman, Melanie and Van Engelenburg, Schuyler B and Walther, Tobias C and Farese, Robert V and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer and Mellman, Ira and Solimena, Michele and Hess, Harald F} } @article {65281, title = {Correlative three-dimensional super-resolution and block-face electron microscopy of whole vitreously frozen cells.}, journal = {Science}, volume = {367}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 Jan 17}, abstract = {

Within cells, the spatial compartmentalization of thousands of distinct proteins serves a multitude of diverse biochemical needs. Correlative super-resolution (SR) fluorescence and electron microscopy (EM) can elucidate protein spatial relationships to global ultrastructure, but has suffered from tradeoffs of structure preservation, fluorescence retention, resolution, and field of view. We developed a platform for three-dimensional cryogenic SR and focused ion beam-milled block-face EM across entire vitreously frozen cells. The approach preserves ultrastructure while enabling independent SR and EM workflow optimization. We discovered unexpected protein-ultrastructure relationships in mammalian cells including intranuclear vesicles containing endoplasmic reticulum-associated proteins, web-like adhesions between cultured neurons, and chromatin domains subclassified on the basis of transcriptional activity. Our findings illustrate the value of a comprehensive multimodal view of ultrastructural variability across whole cells.

}, issn = {1095-9203}, doi = {10.1126/science.aaz5357}, author = {Hoffman, David P and Shtengel, Gleb and Xu, C Shan and Campbell, Kirby R and Freeman, Melanie and Wang, Lei and Milkie, Daniel E and Pasolli, H Amalia and Iyer, Nirmala and Bogovic, John A and Stabley, Daniel R and Shirinifard, Abbas and Pang, Song and Peale, David and Schaefer, Kathy and Pomp, Wim and Chang, Chi-Lun and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer and Kirchhausen, Tom and Solecki, David J and Betzig, Eric and Hess, Harald F} } @article {64795, title = {Spastin tethers lipid droplets to peroxisomes and directs fatty acid trafficking through ESCRT-III.}, journal = {Journal of Cell Biology}, volume = {218}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Jun 21}, pages = {2583-99}, abstract = {

Lipid droplets (LDs) are neutral lipid storage organelles that transfer lipids to various organelles including peroxisomes. Here, we show that the hereditary spastic paraplegia protein M1 Spastin, a membrane-bound AAA ATPase found on LDs, coordinates fatty acid (FA) trafficking from LDs to peroxisomes through two inter-related mechanisms. First, M1 Spastin forms a tethering complex with peroxisomal ABCD1 to promote LD-peroxisome contact formation. Second, M1 Spastin recruits the membrane-shaping ESCRT-III proteins IST1 and CHMP1B to LDs via its MIT domain to facilitate LD-to-peroxisome FA trafficking, possibly through IST1 and CHMP1B modifying LD membrane morphology. Furthermore, M1 Spastin, IST1 and CHMP1B are all required to relieve LDs of lipid peroxidation. The roles of M1 Spastin in tethering LDs to peroxisomes and in recruiting ESCRT-III components to LD-peroxisome contact sites for FA trafficking may help explain the pathogenesis of diseases associated with defective FA metabolism in LDs and peroxisomes.

}, doi = {10.1101/544023}, author = {Chang, Chi-Lun and Weigel, Aubrey V and Ioannou, Maria S and Pasolli, H Amalia and Xu, C Shan and Peale, David R and Shtengel, Gleb and Freeman, Melanie and Hess, Harald F and Blackstone, Craig and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer} } @article {48416, title = {Diverse protocols for correlative super-resolution fluorescence imaging and electron microscopy of chemically fixed samples.}, journal = {Nature Protocols}, volume = {12}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 May}, pages = {916-946}, abstract = {

Our groups have recently developed related approaches for sample preparation for super-resolution imaging within endogenous cellular environments using correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Four distinct techniques for preparing and acquiring super-resolution CLEM data sets for aldehyde-fixed specimens are provided, including Tokuyasu cryosectioning, whole-cell mount, cell unroofing and platinum replication, and resin embedding and sectioning. The choice of the best protocol for a given application depends on a number of criteria that are discussed in detail. Tokuyasu cryosectioning is relatively rapid but is limited to small, delicate specimens. Whole-cell mount has the simplest sample preparation but is restricted to surface structures. Cell unroofing and platinum replication creates high-contrast, 3D images of the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane but is more challenging than whole-cell mount. Resin embedding permits serial sectioning of large samples but is limited to osmium-resistant probes, and is technically difficult. Expected results from these protocols include super-resolution localization (\~{}10-50 nm) of fluorescent targets within the context of electron microscopy ultrastructure, which can help address cell biological questions. These protocols can be completed in 2-7 d, are compatible with a number of super-resolution imaging protocols, and are broadly applicable across biology.

}, issn = {1750-2799}, doi = {10.1038/nprot.2017.017}, author = {Kopek, Benjamin G and Paez-Segala, Maria G and Shtengel, Gleb and Sochacki, Kem A and Sun, Mei G and Wang, Yalin and Xu, C Shan and Van Engelenburg, Schuyler B and Taraska, Justin W and Looger, Loren L and Hess, Harald F} } @article {47162, title = {The 2015 super-resolution microscopy roadmap.}, journal = {Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics}, volume = {48}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Oct 14}, pages = {443001}, abstract = {

Far-field optical microscopy using focused light is an important tool in a number of scientific disciplines including chemical, (bio)physical and biomedical research, particularly with respect to the study of living cells and organisms. Unfortunately, the applicability of the optical microscope is limited, since the diffraction of light imposes limitations on the spatial resolution of the image. Consequently the details of, for example, cellular protein distributions, can be visualized only to a certain extent. Fortunately, recent years have witnessed the development of {\textquoteright}super-resolution{\textquoteright} far-field optical microscopy (nanoscopy) techniques such as stimulated emission depletion (STED), ground state depletion (GSD), reversible saturated optical (fluorescence) transitions (RESOLFT), photoactivation localization microscopy (PALM), stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), structured illumination microscopy (SIM) or saturated structured illumination microscopy (SSIM), all in one way or another addressing the problem of the limited spatial resolution of far-field optical microscopy. While SIM achieves a two-fold improvement in spatial resolution compared to conventional optical microscopy, STED, RESOLFT, PALM/STORM, or SSIM have all gone beyond, pushing the limits of optical image resolution to the nanometer scale. Consequently, all super-resolution techniques open new avenues of biomedical research. Because the field is so young, the potential capabilities of different super-resolution microscopy approaches have yet to be fully explored, and uncertainties remain when considering the best choice of methodology. Thus, even for experts, the road to the future is sometimes shrouded in mist. The super-resolution optical microscopy roadmap of\ Journal of Physics D: Applied Physicsaddresses this need for clarity. It provides guidance to the outstanding questions through a collection of short review articles from experts in the field, giving a thorough discussion on the concepts underlying super-resolution optical microscopy, the potential of different approaches, the importance of label optimization (such as reversible photoswitchable proteins) and applications in which these methods will have a significant impact.

}, doi = {10.1088/0022-3727/48/44/443001}, author = {Hell, Stefan W and Sahl, Steffen J and Bates, Mark and Zhuang, Xiaowei and Heintzmann, Rainer and Booth, Martin J and Bewersdorf, Joerg and Shtengel, Gleb and Hess, Harald F and Tinnefeld, Philip} } @article {45844, title = {Fixation-resistant photoactivatable fluorescent proteins for CLEM.}, journal = {Nature Methods}, volume = {12}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Mar}, pages = {215-8}, abstract = {

Fluorescent proteins facilitate a variety of imaging paradigms in live and fixed samples. However, they lose their fluorescence after heavy fixation, hindering applications such as correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Here we report engineered variants of the photoconvertible Eos fluorescent protein that fluoresce and photoconvert normally in heavily fixed (0.5-1\% OsO4), plastic resin-embedded samples, enabling correlative super-resolution fluorescence imaging and high-quality electron microscopy.

}, issn = {1548-7105}, doi = {10.1038/nmeth.3225}, author = {Paez-Segala, Maria G and Sun, Mei G and Shtengel, Gleb and Viswanathan, Sarada and Baird, Michelle A and Macklin, John J and Patel, Ronak and Allen, John R and Howe, Elizabeth S and Piszczek, Grzegorz and Hess, Harald F and Davidson, Michael W and Wang, Yalin and Looger, Loren L} } @article {46823, title = {Molecular mechanism of vinculin activation and nanoscale spatial organization in focal adhesions.}, journal = {Nature Cell Biology}, volume = {17}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jun 8}, pages = {880-92}, abstract = {

Focal adhesions (FAs) link the extracellular matrix to the actin cytoskeleton to mediate cell adhesion, migration, mechanosensing and signalling. FAs have conserved nanoscale protein organization, suggesting that the position of proteins within FAs regulates their activity and function. Vinculin binds different FA proteins to mediate distinct cellular functions, but how vinculin{\textquoteright}s interactions are spatiotemporally organized within FAs is unknown. Using interferometric photoactivation localization super-resolution microscopy to assay vinculin nanoscale localization and a FRET biosensor to assay vinculin conformation, we found that upward repositioning within the FA during FA maturation facilitates vinculin activation and mechanical reinforcement of FAs. Inactive vinculin localizes to the lower integrin signalling layer in FAs by binding to phospho-paxillin. Talin binding activates vinculin and targets active vinculin higher in FAs where vinculin can engage retrograde actin flow. Thus, specific protein interactions are spatially segregated within FAs at the nanoscale to regulate vinculin activation and function.

}, issn = {1476-4679}, doi = {10.1038/ncb3180}, author = {Case, Lindsay B and Baird, Michelle A and Shtengel, Gleb and Campbell, Sharon L and Hess, Harald F and Davidson, Michael W and Waterman, Clare M} } @article {46531, title = {A multi-layered protein network stabilizes the Escherichia coli FtsZ-ring and modulates constriction dynamics.}, journal = {PLoS Genetics}, volume = {11}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Apr 07}, pages = {e1005128}, abstract = {

The prokaryotic tubulin homolog, FtsZ, forms a ring-like structure (FtsZ-ring) at midcell. The FtsZ-ring establishes the division plane and enables the assembly of the macromolecular division machinery (divisome). Although many molecular components of the divisome have been identified and their interactions extensively characterized, the spatial organization of these proteins within the divisome is unclear. Consequently, the physical mechanisms that drive divisome assembly, maintenance, and constriction remain elusive. Here we applied single-molecule based superresolution imaging, combined with genetic and biophysical investigations, to reveal the spatial organization of cellular structures formed by four important divisome proteins in E. coli: FtsZ, ZapA, ZapB and MatP. We show that these interacting proteins are arranged into a multi-layered protein network extending from the cell membrane to the chromosome, each with unique structural and dynamic properties. Further, we find that this protein network stabilizes the FtsZ-ring, and unexpectedly, slows down cell constriction, suggesting a new, unrecognized role for this network in bacterial cell division. Our results provide new insight into the structure and function of the divisome, and highlight the importance of coordinated cell constriction and chromosome segregation.

}, issn = {1553-7404}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1005128}, author = {Buss, Jackson and Coltharp, Carla and Shtengel, Gleb and Yang, Xinxing and Hess, Harald and Xiao, Jie} } @article {47242, title = {Synthesis of a far-red photoactivatable silicon-containing rhodamine for super-resolution microscopy.}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)}, volume = {55}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Dec 11}, pages = {1723-7}, abstract = {

The rhodamine system is a flexible framework for building small-molecule fluorescent probes. Changing N-substitution patterns and replacing the xanthene oxygen with a dimethylsilicon moiety can shift the absorption and fluorescence emission maxima of rhodamine dyes to longer wavelengths. Acylation of the rhodamine nitrogen atoms forces the molecule to adopt a nonfluorescent lactone form, providing a convenient method to make fluorogenic compounds. Herein, we take advantage of all of these structural manipulations and describe a novel photoactivatable fluorophore based on a Si-containing analogue of Q-rhodamine. This probe is the first example of a "caged" Si-rhodamine, exhibits higher photon counts compared to established localization microscopy dyes, and is sufficiently red-shifted to allow multicolor imaging. The dye is a useful label for super-resolution imaging and constitutes a new scaffold for far-red fluorogenic molecules.

}, issn = {1521-3773}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201509649}, author = {Grimm, Jonathan B and Klein, Teresa and Kopek, Benjamin G and Shtengel, Gleb and Hess, Harald F and Sauer, Markus and Lavis, Luke D} } @article {45787, title = {Anesthetized- and awake-patched whole-cell recordings in freely moving rats using UV-cured collar-based electrode stabilization.}, journal = {Nature Protocols}, volume = {9}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Nov 06}, pages = {2784-95}, abstract = {

Intracellular recording allows precise measurement and manipulation of individual neurons, but it requires stable mechanical contact between the electrode and the cell membrane, and thus it has remained challenging to perform in behaving animals. Whole-cell recordings in freely moving animals can be obtained by rigidly fixing ({\textquoteright}anchoring{\textquoteright}) the pipette electrode to the head; however, previous anchoring procedures were slow and often caused substantial pipette movement, resulting in loss of the recording or of recording quality. We describe a UV-transparent collar and UV-cured adhesive technique that rapidly (within 15 s) anchors pipettes in place with virtually no movement, thus substantially improving the reliability, yield and quality of freely moving whole-cell recordings. Recordings are first obtained from anesthetized or awake head-fixed rats. UV light cures the thin adhesive layers linking pipette to collar to head. Then, the animals are rapidly and smoothly released for recording during unrestrained behavior. The anesthetized-patched version can be completed in \~{}4-7 h (excluding histology) and the awake-patched version requires \~{}1-4 h per day for \~{}2 weeks. These advances should greatly facilitate studies of neuronal integration and plasticity in identified cells during natural behaviors.

}, issn = {1750-2799}, doi = {10.1038/nprot.2014.190}, author = {Lee, Doyun and Shtengel, Gleb and Osborne, Jason E and Lee, Albert K} } @article {6711, title = {Correlative super-resolution fluorescence and metal-replica transmission electron microscopy.}, journal = {Nature Methods}, volume = {11}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Jan 26}, pages = {305-8}, abstract = {

We combine super-resolution localization fluorescence microscopy with transmission electron microscopy of metal replicas to locate proteins on the landscape of the cellular plasma membrane at the nanoscale. We validate robust correlation on the scale of 20 nm by imaging endogenous clathrin (in two and three dimensions) and apply the method to find the previously unknown three-dimensional position of the endocytic protein epsin on clathrin-coated structures at the plasma membrane.

}, issn = {1548-7105}, doi = {10.1038/nmeth.2816}, author = {Sochacki, Kem A and Shtengel, Gleb and Van Engelenburg, Schuyler B and Hess, Harald F and Taraska, Justin W} } @article {6710, title = {Distribution of ESCRT machinery at HIV assembly sites reveals virus scaffolding of ESCRT subunits.}, journal = {Science}, volume = {343}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Jan 16}, pages = {653-6}, abstract = {

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hijacks the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) to mediate virus release from infected cells. The nanoscale organization of ESCRT machinery necessary for mediating viral abscission is unclear. Here, we applied three-dimensional superresolution microscopy and correlative electron microscopy to delineate the organization of ESCRT components at HIV assembly sites. We observed ESCRT subunits localized within the head of budding virions and released particles, with head-localized levels of CHMP2A decreasing relative to Tsg101 and CHMP4B upon virus abscission. Thus, the driving force for HIV release may derive from initial scaffolding of ESCRT subunits within the viral bud interior followed by plasma membrane association and selective remodeling of ESCRT subunits.

}, issn = {1095-9203}, doi = {10.1126/science.1247786}, author = {Van Engelenburg, Schuyler B and Shtengel, Gleb and Sengupta, Prabuddha and Waki, Kayoko and Jarnik, Michal and Ablan, Sherimay D and Freed, Eric O and Hess, Harald F and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer} } @article {47631, title = {Distribution of ESCRT machinery at HIV assembly sites reveals virus scaffolding of ESCRT subunits.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {343}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Feb 7}, pages = {653-6}, abstract = {

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) hijacks the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) to mediate virus release from infected cells. The nanoscale organization of ESCRT machinery necessary for mediating viral abscission is unclear. Here, we applied three-dimensional superresolution microscopy and correlative electron microscopy to delineate the organization of ESCRT components at HIV assembly sites. We observed ESCRT subunits localized within the head of budding virions and released particles, with head-localized levels of CHMP2A decreasing relative to Tsg101 and CHMP4B upon virus abscission. Thus, the driving force for HIV release may derive from initial scaffolding of ESCRT subunits within the viral bud interior followed by plasma membrane association and selective remodeling of ESCRT subunits.

}, keywords = {Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport, gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Microscopy, Protein Subunits, Virion, Virus Assembly, Virus Release}, issn = {1095-9203}, doi = {10.1126/science.1247786}, author = {Van Engelenburg, Schuyler B and Shtengel, Gleb and Sengupta, Prabuddha and Waki, Kayoko and Jarnik, Michal and Ablan, Sherimay D and Freed, Eric O and Hess, Harald F and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer} } @article {45060, title = {Imaging cellular ultrastructure by PALM, iPALM, and correlative iPALM-EM.}, journal = {Methods in Cell Biology}, volume = {123}, year = {2014}, month = {2014}, pages = {273-94}, abstract = {

Many biomolecules in cells can be visualized with high sensitivity and specificity by fluorescence microscopy. However, the resolution of conventional light microscopy is limited by diffraction to ~200-250nm laterally and \>500nm axially. Here, we describe superresolution methods based on single-molecule localization analysis of photoswitchable fluorophores (PALM: photoactivated localization microscopy) as well as our recent three-dimensional (3D) method (iPALM: interferometric PALM) that allows imaging with a resolution better than 20nm in all three dimensions. Considerations for their implementations, applications to multicolor imaging, and a recent development that extend the imaging depth of iPALM to ~750nm are discussed. As the spatial resolution of superresolution fluorescence microscopy converges with that of electron microscopy (EM), direct imaging of the same specimen using both approaches becomes feasible. This could be particularly useful for cross validation of experiments, and thus, we also describe recent methods that were developed for correlative superresolution fluorescence and EM.

}, issn = {0091-679X}, doi = {10.1016/B978-0-12-420138-5.00015-X}, author = {Shtengel, Gleb and Wang, Yilin and Zhang, Zhen and Goh, Wah Ing and Hess, Harald F and Kanchanawong, Pakorn} } @article {6712, title = {Correlative photoactivated localization and scanning electron microscopy.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {8}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Oct 25}, pages = {e77209}, abstract = {

The ability to localize proteins precisely within subcellular space is crucial to understanding the functioning of biological systems. Recently, we described a protocol that correlates a precise map of fluorescent fusion proteins localized using three-dimensional super-resolution optical microscopy with the fine ultrastructural context of three-dimensional electron micrographs. While it achieved the difficult simultaneous objectives of high photoactivated fluorophore preservation and ultrastructure preservation, it required a super-resolution optical and specialized electron microscope that is not available to many researchers. We present here a faster and more practical protocol with the advantage of a simpler two-dimensional optical (Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM)) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) system that retains the often mutually exclusive attributes of fluorophore preservation and ultrastructure preservation. As before, cryosections were prepared using the Tokuyasu protocol, but the staining protocol was modified to be amenable for use in a standard SEM without the need for focused ion beam ablation. We show the versatility of this technique by labeling different cellular compartments and structures including mitochondrial nucleoids, peroxisomes, and the nuclear lamina. We also demonstrate simultaneous two-color PALM imaging with correlated electron micrographs. Lastly, this technique can be used with small-molecule dyes as demonstrated with actin labeling using phalloidin conjugated to a caged dye. By retaining the dense protein labeling expected for super-resolution microscopy combined with ultrastructural preservation, simplifying the tools required for correlative microscopy, and expanding the number of useful labels we expect this method to be accessible and valuable to a wide variety of researchers.

}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0077209}, author = {Kopek, Benjamin G and Shtengel, Gleb and Grimm, Jonathan B and Clayton, David A and Hess, Harald F} } @article {45187, title = {Correlative 3D superresolution fluorescence and electron microscopy reveal the relationship of mitochondrial nucleoids to membranes.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr 17}, pages = {6136-41}, abstract = {

Microscopic images of specific proteins in their cellular context yield important insights into biological processes and cellular architecture. The advent of superresolution optical microscopy techniques provides the possibility to augment EM with nanometer-resolution fluorescence microscopy to access the precise location of proteins in the context of cellular ultrastructure. Unfortunately, efforts to combine superresolution fluorescence and EM have been stymied by the divergent and incompatible sample preparation protocols of the two methods. Here, we describe a protocol that preserves both the delicate photoactivatable fluorescent protein labels essential for superresolution microscopy and the fine ultrastructural context of EM. This preparation enables direct 3D imaging in 500- to 750-nm sections with interferometric photoactivatable localization microscopy followed by scanning EM images generated by focused ion beam ablation. We use this process to "colorize" detailed EM images of the mitochondrion with the position of labeled proteins. The approach presented here has provided a new level of definition of the in vivo nature of organization of mitochondrial nucleoids, and we expect this straightforward method to be applicable to many other biological questions that can be answered by direct imaging.

}, keywords = {3T3 Cells, Animals, DNA, Mitochondrial, DNA-Binding Proteins, Fibroblasts, High Mobility Group Proteins, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Luminescent Proteins, Mice, Microscopy, Electron, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Microscopy, Interference, Mitochondria, Mitochondrial Membranes, Mitochondrial Proteins, Reproducibility of Results}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1121558109}, author = {Kopek, Benjamin G and Shtengel, Gleb and Xu, C Shan and Clayton, David A and Hess, Harald F} } @article {5851, title = {Imaging the post-fusion release and capture of a vesicle membrane protein.}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {3}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, pages = {1154}, abstract = {

The molecular mechanism responsible for capturing, sorting and retrieving vesicle membrane proteins following triggered exocytosis is not understood. Here we image the post-fusion release and then capture of a vesicle membrane protein, the vesicular acetylcholine transporter, from single vesicles in living neuroendocrine cells. We combine these measurements with super-resolution interferometric photo-activation localization microscopy and electron microscopy, and modelling to map the nanometer-scale topography and architecture of the structures responsible for the transporter{\textquoteright}s capture following exocytosis. We show that after exocytosis, the transporter rapidly diffuses into the plasma membrane, but most travels only a short distance before it is locally captured over a dense network of membrane-resident clathrin-coated structures. We propose that the extreme density of these structures acts as a short-range diffusion trap. They quickly sequester diffusing vesicle material and limit its spread across the membrane. This system could provide a means for clathrin-mediated endocytosis to quickly recycle vesicle proteins in highly excitable cells.

}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms2158}, author = {Sochacki, Kem A and Larson, Ben T and Sengupta, Deepali C and Daniels, Mathew P and Shtengel, Gleb and Hess, Harald F and Taraska, Justin W} } @article {4469, title = {Superresolution fluorescence imaging of mitochondrial nucleoids reveals their spatial range, limits, and membrane interaction.}, journal = {Molecular and Cellular Biology}, volume = {31}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Dec}, pages = {4994-5010}, abstract = {

A fundamental objective in molecular biology is to understand how DNA is organized in concert with various proteins, RNA, and biological membranes. Mitochondria maintain and express their own DNA (mtDNA), which is arranged within structures called nucleoids. Their functions, dimensions, composition, and precise locations relative to other mitochondrial structures are poorly defined. Superresolution fluorescence microscopy techniques that exceed the previous limits of imaging within the small and highly compartmentalized mitochondria have been recently developed. We have improved and employed both two- and three-dimensional applications of photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM and iPALM, respectively) to visualize the core dimensions and relative locations of mitochondrial nucleoids at an unprecedented resolution. PALM reveals that nucleoids differ greatly in size and shape. Three-dimensional volumetric analysis indicates that, on average, the mtDNA within ellipsoidal nucleoids is extraordinarily condensed. Two-color PALM shows that the freely diffusible mitochondrial matrix protein is largely excluded from the nucleoid. In contrast, nucleoids are closely associated with the inner membrane and often appear to be wrapped around cristae or crista-like inner membrane invaginations. Determinations revealing high packing density, separation from the matrix, and tight association with the inner membrane underscore the role of mechanisms that regulate access to mtDNA and that remain largely unknown.

}, keywords = {3T3 Cells, Animals, Confocal, DNA, Fluorescence, Mice, Microscopy, Mitochondria, Mitochondrial, Mitochondrial Proteins, Plasmids, Sequence Alignment, Sequence Analysis}, issn = {1098-5549}, doi = {10.1128/MCB.05694-11}, url = {http://mcb.asm.org/content/31/24/4994.short}, author = {Brown, Timothy A and Tkachuk, Ariana N and Shtengel, Gleb and Kopek, Benjamin G and Bogenhagen, Daniel F and Hess, Harald F and Clayton, David A} } @article {926, title = {Nanoscale architecture of integrin-based cell adhesions.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {468}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Nov 25}, pages = {580-4}, abstract = {

Cell adhesions to the extracellular matrix (ECM) are necessary for morphogenesis, immunity, and wound healing. Focal adhesions are multifunctional organelles that mediate cell-ECM adhesion, force transmission, cytoskeletal regulation and signaling. Focal adhesions consist of a complex network of trans-plasma-membrane integrins and cytoplasmic proteins that form a \<200-nm plaque linking the ECM to the actin cytoskeleton. The complexity of focal adhesion composition and dynamics implicate an intricate molecular machine. However, focal adhesion molecular architecture remains unknown. Here we used three-dimensional super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (interferometric photoactivated localization microscopy) to map nanoscale protein organization in focal adhesions. Our results reveal that integrins and actin are vertically separated by a \~{}40-nm focal adhesion core region consisting of multiple protein-specific strata: a membrane-apposed integrin signaling layer containing integrin cytoplasmic tails, focal adhesion kinase, and paxillin; an intermediate force-transduction layer containing talin and vinculin; and an uppermost actin-regulatory layer containing zyxin, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein and α-actinin. By localizing amino- and carboxy-terminally tagged talins, we reveal talin{\textquoteright}s polarized orientation, indicative of a role in organizing the focal adhesion strata. The composite multilaminar protein architecture provides a molecular blueprint for understanding focal adhesion functions.

}, keywords = {Actins, Animals, Biological, Cell Adhesion, Cell Line, Cell Membrane, Extracellular Matrix, Humans, Integrins, Mice, Models, Tumor}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/nature09621}, author = {Kanchanawong, Pakorn and Shtengel, Gleb and Pasapera, Ana M and Ramko, Ericka B and Davidson, Michael W and Hess, Harald F and Waterman, Clare M} } @article {927, title = {Interferometric fluorescent super-resolution microscopy resolves 3D cellular ultrastructure.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {106}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Mar 3}, pages = {3125-30}, abstract = {

Understanding molecular-scale architecture of cells requires determination of 3D locations of specific proteins with accuracy matching their nanometer-length scale. Existing electron and light microscopy techniques are limited either in molecular specificity or resolution. Here, we introduce interferometric photoactivated localization microscopy (iPALM), the combination of photoactivated localization microscopy with single-photon, simultaneous multiphase interferometry that provides sub-20-nm 3D protein localization with optimal molecular specificity. We demonstrate measurement of the 25-nm microtubule diameter, resolve the dorsal and ventral plasma membranes, and visualize the arrangement of integrin receptors within endoplasmic reticulum and adhesion complexes, 3D protein organization previously resolved only by electron microscopy. iPALM thus closes the gap between electron tomography and light microscopy, enabling both molecular specification and resolution of cellular nanoarchitecture.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cell Line, Cercopithecus aethiops, Fluorescence, Humans, Imaging, Interference, Microscopy, Microtubules, Three-Dimensional}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.0813131106}, author = {Shtengel, Gleb and Galbraith, James A and Galbraith, Catherine G and Lippincott-Schwartz, Jennifer and Gillette, Jennifer M and Manley, Suliana and Sougrat, Rachid and Waterman, Clare M and Kanchanawong, Pakorn and Davidson, Michael W and Fetter, Richard D and Hess, Harald F} }