Super-resolution microscopy
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (or TIRF) is a powerful technique that combines the sensitivity of conventional fluorescence with selective illumination to improve the contrast of features very close to the sample coverslip. TIRF is often used for studies related to membrane dynamics, receptor-ligand interactions, and vesicular transport.
The intrinsic diffraction of light has historically made it difficult to use fluorescence to distinguish structures closer than 200nm apart. Super-resolution microscopy refers to techniques that selectively activate fluorescent molecules to map their position with up to 10 times more accuracy than conventional fluorescent microscopy. The Nikon N-Storm system is capable of localizing molecules with a resolution of up to 20nm and is compatible with all most current localization protocols and fluorophores (including Alexafluor 647 and Atto488).
Customer benefits
We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.
This service is essential to:
- Nanoscale imaging of fixed samples
- Dynamic imaging of cytoskeletal structures, focal adhesion formation, as well as endocytosis and vesicle dynamics in live cells.
- Single-molecule studies and localization microscopy modalities including N-STORM, Direct STORM, and PALM.
- Fluorescent analysis of histological samples.
Target customer
Any company or research group interested in:
- STORM image processing: we can convert localization imaging data into SR images using both proprietary and open source software packages.
- TIRF imaging of membrane and/or cytoskeletal dynamics in live adherent cells using commercial fluorescent labels such as DiR, FM4-64, and Cell-Light or user-supplied reagents.