Single-molecule and superresolution imaging in live bacteria cells

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2010 Mar;2(3):a000448. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a000448.

Abstract

Single-molecule imaging enables biophysical measurements devoid of ensemble averaging, gives enhanced spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit, and permits superresolution reconstructions. Here, single-molecule and superresolution imaging are applied to the study of proteins in live Caulobacter crescentus cells to illustrate the power of these methods in bacterial imaging. Based on these techniques, the diffusion coefficient and dynamics of the histidine protein kinase PleC, the localization behavior of the polar protein PopZ, and the treadmilling behavior and protein superstructure of the structural protein MreB are investigated with sub-40-nm spatial resolution, all in live cells.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Biophysics / methods
  • Caulobacter crescentus / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy / methods
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Diffusion
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Histidine Kinase
  • Luminescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Models, Biological
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria
  • MreB protein, E coli
  • Protein Kinases
  • Histidine Kinase