Small-molecule inhibition of STOML3 oligomerization reverses pathological mechanical hypersensitivity.

The skin is equipped with specialized mechanoreceptors that allow the perception of the slightest brush. Indeed, some mechanoreceptors can detect even nanometer-scale movements. Movement is transformed into electrical signals via the gating of mechanically activated ion channels at sensory endings in the skin.

Spectral demixing avoids registration errors and reduces noise in multicolor localization-based super-resolution microscopy.

Multicolor single molecule localization-based super-resolution microscopy (SMLM) approaches are challenged by channel crosstalk and errors in multi-channel registration. We recently introduced a spectral demixing-based variant of direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (SD-dSTORM) to perform multicolor SMLM with minimal color crosstalk. Here, we demonstrate that the spectral demixing procedure is inherently free of errors in multicolor registration and therefore does not require multicolor channel alignment.

SDmixer-a versatile software tool for spectral demixing of multicolor single molecule localization data.

Spectral demixing (SD) offers multicolor single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) with low crosstalk and without the need to correct for registration errors. Here, we present SDmixer, a versatile, open-source software tool that enables any laboratory to perform rapid SD-based multicolor SMLM. A graphic user interface allows non-experts to process 2D or 3D data sets from any SML software and to reconstruct the super-resolved multicolor images with flexible output options.

The specific monomer/dimer equilibrium of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 is established in the endoplasmic reticulum.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the most important drug targets. Although the smallest functional unit of a GPCR is a monomer, it became clear in the past decades that the vast majority of the receptors form dimers. Only very recently, however, data were presented that some receptors may in fact be expressed as a mixture of monomers and dimers and that the interaction of the receptor protomers is dynamic.

A presynaptic role for the cytomatrix protein GIT in synaptic vesicle recycling.

Neurotransmission involves the exo-endocytic cycling of synaptic vesicles (SVs) within nerve terminals. Exocytosis is facilitated by a cytomatrix assembled at the active zone (AZ). The precise spatial and functional relationship between exocytic fusion of SVs at AZ membranes and endocytic SV retrieval is unknown.

Spatiotemporal control of endocytosis by phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate.

Phosphoinositides serve crucial roles in cell physiology, ranging from cell signalling to membrane traffic. Among the seven eukaryotic phosphoinositides the best studied species is phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), which is concentrated at the plasma membrane where, among other functions, it is required for the nucleation of endocytic clathrin-coated pits. No phosphatidylinositol other than PI(4,5)P2 has been implicated in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, whereas the subsequent endosomal stages of the endocytic pathway are dominated by phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphates(PI(3)P).

Multi-colour direct STORM with red emitting carbocyanines.

Background Information: Single molecule-based super-resolution methods have become important tools to study nanoscale structures in cell biology. However, the complexity of multi-colour applications has prevented them from being widely used amongst biologists. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) offers a simple way to perform single molecule super-resolution imaging without the need for an activator fluorophore and compatible with many conventionally used fluorophores.