Protein-retention expansion microscopy of cells and tissues labeled using standard fluorescent proteins and antibodies

Nat Biotechnol. 2016 Sep;34(9):987-92. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3625. Epub 2016 Jul 4.

Abstract

Expansion microscopy (ExM) enables imaging of preserved specimens with nanoscale precision on diffraction-limited instead of specialized super-resolution microscopes. ExM works by physically separating fluorescent probes after anchoring them to a swellable gel. The first ExM method did not result in the retention of native proteins in the gel and relied on custom-made reagents that are not widely available. Here we describe protein retention ExM (proExM), a variant of ExM in which proteins are anchored to the swellable gel, allowing the use of conventional fluorescently labeled antibodies and streptavidin, and fluorescent proteins. We validated and demonstrated the utility of proExM for multicolor super-resolution (∼70 nm) imaging of cells and mammalian tissues on conventional microscopes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal*
  • Brain / cytology*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Luminescent Proteins*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Staining and Labeling / methods

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Luminescent Proteins