Wide-field subdiffraction imaging by accumulated binding of diffusing probes

Wide-field subdiffraction imaging by accumulated binding of diffusing probes

December 12, 2006 | Alexey Sharonov and Robin M. Hochstrasser
A method for subdiffraction imaging is introduced, which accumulates points by collisional flux. The method targets the surface of objects using fluorescent probes diffusing in solution. The flux of probes at the object is essentially constant over long time periods, allowing the examination of an almost unlimited number of individual probe molecules. Each probe that hits the object and becomes immobilized is located with high precision by replacing its point-spread function with a point at its centroid. Images of lipid bilayers, contours of these bilayers, and large unilamellar vesicles are shown. A spatial resolution of approximately 25 nm is readily achieved. The method enables rapid nanoscale imaging and spatial resolution below the Rayleigh criterion without the necessity for labeling with fluorescent probes. The method is based on the principle of intermittency caused by bimolecular collisions, photobleaching, and point-spread function (PSF) measurements. In this approach, the collision followed by binding generates a fluorescence signal spike, allowing an almost unlimited number of probe molecules to be used to form entire images with nanometer resolution. The method, called PAINT (Point Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography), involves continuously targeting fluorescent probes in solution. The flux of molecules incident on the object depends on the diffusion coefficient and concentration gradient of the probes. A fluorescent signal appears as a diffraction-limited spot on the object when a label binds to it and is immobilized; it is destroyed when that label dissociates from the object or is photobleached. The density of probes on the object surface should be kept below one molecule per square micrometer during each observation period. Each fluorescent image can be treated as a PSF from a single molecule and fitted to a 2D Gaussian function to achieve its absolute position with high precision. The method was used to image large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and supported bilayers. The results showed that the method can resolve individual vesicles and visualize the contours of supported bilayers with high resolution. The method is applicable to a wide range of biological structures and can be used for imaging of cell organelles, cell membranes, and other lipid objects. The method is also suitable for in vivo imaging of large molecular ensembles and can achieve spatial resolution of slow dynamical processes. The method is based on the principle of precise determination of the coordinates of individual fluorophores, with accuracy as high as 1 nm. The method can be used without any modifications for imaging objects such as cell organelles, cell membranes, and other lipid objects. By varying the probe molecule, it will be possible to achieve selectivity in imaging specific objects. The essential requirement of the proposed imaging method is that the probe molecules interact with and are temporarily immobilized by the object. The method has the potential to be widely applicable in life sciences for imaging biological structures with high resolution.A method for subdiffraction imaging is introduced, which accumulates points by collisional flux. The method targets the surface of objects using fluorescent probes diffusing in solution. The flux of probes at the object is essentially constant over long time periods, allowing the examination of an almost unlimited number of individual probe molecules. Each probe that hits the object and becomes immobilized is located with high precision by replacing its point-spread function with a point at its centroid. Images of lipid bilayers, contours of these bilayers, and large unilamellar vesicles are shown. A spatial resolution of approximately 25 nm is readily achieved. The method enables rapid nanoscale imaging and spatial resolution below the Rayleigh criterion without the necessity for labeling with fluorescent probes. The method is based on the principle of intermittency caused by bimolecular collisions, photobleaching, and point-spread function (PSF) measurements. In this approach, the collision followed by binding generates a fluorescence signal spike, allowing an almost unlimited number of probe molecules to be used to form entire images with nanometer resolution. The method, called PAINT (Point Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography), involves continuously targeting fluorescent probes in solution. The flux of molecules incident on the object depends on the diffusion coefficient and concentration gradient of the probes. A fluorescent signal appears as a diffraction-limited spot on the object when a label binds to it and is immobilized; it is destroyed when that label dissociates from the object or is photobleached. The density of probes on the object surface should be kept below one molecule per square micrometer during each observation period. Each fluorescent image can be treated as a PSF from a single molecule and fitted to a 2D Gaussian function to achieve its absolute position with high precision. The method was used to image large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and supported bilayers. The results showed that the method can resolve individual vesicles and visualize the contours of supported bilayers with high resolution. The method is applicable to a wide range of biological structures and can be used for imaging of cell organelles, cell membranes, and other lipid objects. The method is also suitable for in vivo imaging of large molecular ensembles and can achieve spatial resolution of slow dynamical processes. The method is based on the principle of precise determination of the coordinates of individual fluorophores, with accuracy as high as 1 nm. The method can be used without any modifications for imaging objects such as cell organelles, cell membranes, and other lipid objects. By varying the probe molecule, it will be possible to achieve selectivity in imaging specific objects. The essential requirement of the proposed imaging method is that the probe molecules interact with and are temporarily immobilized by the object. The method has the potential to be widely applicable in life sciences for imaging biological structures with high resolution.
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