Super-resolution fluorescence imaging and correlation spectroscopy: Principles and examples of application

Abstract

Self-organization of cell-surface receptors in structurally distinct domains in the plasma membrane is of vital interest for correct cellular signaling. However, this dynamic process is difficult to study in cells with sufficiently high temporal and spatial resolution. We present here two quantitative high-resolution methods with single-molecule sensitivity, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) and pair-correlation Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (pcPALM), which enable nondestructive study of receptor diffusion and lateral organization at the nanoscale level. We introduce here the methods and review their application in studies of lateral organization of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). Examples from our own work on opioid receptor lateral organization are presented in order to illustrate the most recent advances in the field. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172015 i br. 45001]

Keywords

• fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS)
• super-resolution fluorescence imaging
• sub-diffraction limit
• photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM)
• G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)
• lipid rafts