Superresolution imaging of biological nanostructures by spectral precision distance microscopy.

For the improved understanding of biological systems on the nanoscale, it is necessary to enhance the resolution of light microscopy in the visible wavelength range beyond the limits of conventional epifluorescence microscopy (optical resolution of about 200 nm laterally, 600 nm axially). Recently, various far-field methods have been developed allowing a substantial increase of resolution ("superresolution microscopy", or "lightoptical nanoscopy"). This opens an avenue to 'nano-image' intact and even living cells, as well as other biostructures like viruses, down to the molecular detail.

Combining FISH with localisation microscopy: Super-resolution imaging of nuclear genome nanostructures.

The optical resolution of conventional far field fluorescence light microscopy is restricted to about 200 nm laterally and 600 nm axially and has been thought for many decades to be an insurmountable barrier for the quantitative spatial analysis of cellular and hence also nuclear constituents. Novel approaches in light microscopy have now overcome this barrier. Here, we report on a special method of localisation microscopy, spectral precision distance/position determination microscopy and its combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization to analyse the spatial distribution of specific DNA sequences in human cell nuclei at the macromolecular optical resolution level.

Localization microscopy reveals expression-dependent parameters of chromatin nanostructure.

A combined approach of 2D high-resolution localization light microscopy and statistical methods is presented to infer structural features and density fluctuations at the nuclear nanoscale. Hallmarks of nuclear nanostructure are found on the scale below 100 nm for both human fibroblast and HeLa cells. Mechanical measures were extracted as a quantitative tool from the histone density fluctuations inside the cell to obtain structural fluctuations on the scale of several micrometers.

Dual color localization microscopy of cellular nanostructures.

The dual color localization microscopy (2CLM) presented here is based on the principles of spectral precision distance microscopy (SPDM) with conventional autofluorescent proteins under special physical conditions. This technique allows us to measure the spatial distribution of single fluorescently labeled molecules in entire cells with an effective optical resolution comparable to macromolecular dimensions. Here, we describe the application of the 2CLM approach to the simultaneous nanoimaging of cellular structures using two fluorochrome types distinguished by different fluorescence emission wavelengths.

High-precision structural analysis of subnuclear complexes in fixed and live cells via spatially modulated illumination (SMI) microscopy.

Spatially modulated illumination (SMI) microscopy is a method of wide field fluorescence microscopy featuring interferometric illumination, which delivers structural information about nanoscale architecture in fluorescently labelled cells. The first prototype of the SMI microscope proved its applicability to a wide range of biological questions. For the SMI live cell imaging this system was enhanced in terms of the development of a completely new upright configuration.