Insights in caveolae protein structure arrangements and their local lipid environment.

Caveolae are 50-80 nm sized plasma membrane invaginations found in adipocytes, endothelial cells or fibroblasts. They are involved in endocytosis, lipid uptake and the regulation of the cellular lipid metabolism as well as sensing and adapting to changes in plasma membrane tension. Caveolae are characterized by their unique lipid composition and their specific protein coat consisting of caveolin and cavin proteins.

Adhesion energy controls lipid binding-mediated endocytosis.

Several bacterial toxins and viruses can deform membranes through multivalent binding to lipids for clathrin-independent endocytosis. However, it remains unclear, how membrane deformation and endocytic internalization are mechanistically linked. Here we show that many lipid-binding virions induce membrane deformation and clathrin-independent endocytosis, suggesting a common mechanism based on multivalent lipid binding by globular particles.

Canonical and non-canonical integrin-based adhesions dynamically interconvert.

Adhesions are critical for anchoring cells in their environment, as signaling platforms and for cell migration. In line with these diverse functions different types of cell-matrix adhesions have been described. Best-studied are the canonical integrin-based focal adhesions.

Analyzing the cellular plasma membrane by fast and efficient correlative STED and platinum replica EM.

The plasma membrane of mammalian cells links transmembrane receptors, various structural components, and membrane-binding proteins to subcellular processes, allowing inter- and intracellular communication. Therefore, membrane-binding proteins, together with structural components such as actin filaments, modulate the cell membrane in their flexibility, stiffness, and curvature. Investigating membrane components and curvature in cells remains challenging due to the diffraction limit in light microscopy.

Three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy with enhanced axial resolution.

The axial resolution of three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy (3D SIM) is limited to ∼300 nm. Here we present two distinct, complementary methods to improve axial resolution in 3D SIM with minimal or no modification to the optical system. We show that placing a mirror directly opposite the sample enables four-beam interference with higher spatial frequency content than 3D SIM illumination, offering near-isotropic imaging with ∼120-nm lateral and 160-nm axial resolution.