Although the development of super-resolution microscopy methods dates back to 1994, relevant applications in plant cell imaging only started to emerge in 2010. Since then, the principal super-resolution methods, including structured-illumination microscopy (SIM), photoactivation localization microscopy (PALM), stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), and stimulated emission depletion microscopy (STED), have been implemented in plant cell research. However, progress has been limited due to the challenging properties of plant material. Here we summarize the basic principles of existing super-resolution methods and provide examples of applications in plant science. The limitations imposed by the nature of plant material are reviewed and the potential for future applications in plant cell imaging is highlighted.

• Klíčová slova
• photoactivation localization microscopy, plant cell biology, stimulated emission depletion microscopy, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, structured-illumination microscopy, super-resolution microscopy,
• MeSH
• mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• rostlinné buňky chemie   fyziologie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Fluorescence-based microscopy as one of the standard tools in biomedical research benefits more and more from super-resolution methods, which offer enhanced spatial resolution allowing insights into new biological processes. A typical drawback of using these methods is the need for new, complex optical set-ups. This becomes even more significant when using two-photon fluorescence excitation, which offers deep tissue imaging and excellent z-sectioning. We show that the generation of striped-illumination patterns in two-photon laser scanning microscopy can readily be exploited for achieving optical super-resolution and contrast enhancement using open-source image reconstruction software. The special appeal of this approach is that even in the case of a commercial two-photon laser scanning microscope no optomechanical modifications are required to achieve this modality. Modifying the scanning software with a custom-written macro to address the scanning mirrors in combination with rapid intensity switching by an electro-optic modulator is sufficient to accomplish the acquisition of two-photon striped-illumination patterns on an sCMOS camera. We demonstrate and analyse the resulting resolution improvement by applying different recently published image resolution evaluation procedures to the reconstructed filtered widefield and super-resolved images. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Super-resolution structured illumination microscopy (part 1)'.

• Klíčová slova
• SIM, laser scanning fluorescence microscopy, multi-photon fluorescence excitation, structured illumination microscopy, super-resolution optical microscopy,
• MeSH
• algoritmy MeSH
• Convallaria ultrastruktura   MeSH
• ledviny ultrastruktura   MeSH
• mikroskopie fluorescenční multifotonová přístrojové vybavení   metody   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• optické jevy MeSH
• optické prostředky MeSH
• počítačové zpracování obrazu metody   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• software MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The importance of fluorescence light microscopy for understanding cellular and sub-cellular structures and functions is undeniable. However, the resolution is limited by light diffraction (~200-250 nm laterally, ~500-700 nm axially). Meanwhile, super-resolution microscopy, such as structured illumination microscopy (SIM), is being applied more and more to overcome this restriction. Instead, super-resolution by stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy achieving a resolution of ~50 nm laterally and ~130 nm axially has not yet frequently been applied in plant cell research due to the required specific sample preparation and stable dye staining. Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) including photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) has not yet been widely used, although this nanoscopic technique allows even the detection of single molecules. In this study, we compared protein imaging within metaphase chromosomes of barley via conventional wide-field and confocal microscopy, and the sub-diffraction methods SIM, STED, and SMLM. The chromosomes were labeled by DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindol), a DNA-specific dye, and with antibodies against topoisomerase IIα (Topo II), a protein important for correct chromatin condensation. Compared to the diffraction-limited methods, the combination of the three different super-resolution imaging techniques delivered tremendous additional insights into the plant chromosome architecture through the achieved increased resolution.

• Klíčová slova
• Hordeum vulgare, chromatin, deconvolution microscopy, metaphase chromosome, nanoscopy, photoactivated localization microscopy, stimulated emission depletion microscopy, structured illumination microscopy, topoisomerase II, wide-field microscopy,
• MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• DNA-topoisomerasy typu II metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva chemie   MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• indoly chemie   MeSH
• ječmen (rod) cytologie   genetika   MeSH
• konfokální mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• metafáze genetika   MeSH
• reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
• zobrazení jednotlivé molekuly metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DAPI MeSH Prohlížeč
• DNA-topoisomerasy typu II MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva MeSH
• indoly MeSH

The investigation of spatial heterogeneity within the thylakoid membrane (TM) proteins has gained increasing attention in photosynthetic research. The recent advances in live-cell imaging have allowed the identification of heterogeneous organisation of photosystems in small cyanobacterial cells. These sub-micrometre TM regions, termed microdomains in cyanobacteria, exhibit functional similarities with granal (Photosystem II dominant) and stromal (Photosystem I dominant) regions observed in TM of higher plants. This study delves into microdomain heterogeneity using super-resolution Airyscan-based microscopy enhancing resolution to approximately ~125 nm in x-y dimension. The new data reveal membrane areas rich in Photosystem I within the inner TM rings. Moreover, we identified analogous dynamics in the mobility of Photosystem II and phycobilisomes; countering earlier models that postulated differing mobility of these complexes. These novel findings thus hold significance for our understanding of photosynthesis regulation, particularly during state transitions.

• Klíčová slova
• Airyscan, FRAP, cyanobacteria, microdomain, photosystem, protein mobility, super-resolution microscopy, thylakoid membrane heterogeneity,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Microtubules are cytoskeletal polymers of tubulin dimers assembled into protofilaments that constitute nanotubes undergoing periods of assembly and disassembly. Static electron micrographs suggest a structural transition of straight protofilaments into curved ones occurring at the tips of disassembling microtubules. However, these structural transitions have never been observed and the process of microtubule disassembly thus remains unclear. Here, label-free optical microscopy capable of selective imaging of the transient structural changes of protofilaments at the tip of a disassembling microtubule is introduced. Upon induced disassembly, the transition of ordered protofilaments into a disordered conformation is resolved at the tip of the microtubule. Imaging the unbinding of individual tubulin oligomers from the microtubule tip reveals transient pauses and relapses in the disassembly, concurrent with increased organization of protofilament segments at the microtubule tip. These findings show that microtubule disassembly is a discrete process and suggest a stochastic mechanism of switching from the disassembly to the assembly phase.

• Klíčová slova
• dynamic instability, iSCAT, microtubules, scattering anisotropy, super-resolution microscopy,
• MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• mikrotubuly chemie   MeSH
• polymery analýza   MeSH
• tubulin MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polymery MeSH
• tubulin MeSH

Centromeres are essential for proper chromosome segregation to the daughter cells during mitosis and meiosis. Chromosomes of most eukaryotes studied so far have regional centromeres that form primary constrictions on metaphase chromosomes. These monocentric chromosomes vary from point centromeres to so-called "meta-polycentromeres", with multiple centromere domains in an extended primary constriction, as identified in Pisum and Lathyrus species. However, in various animal and plant lineages centromeres are distributed along almost the entire chromosome length. Therefore, they are called holocentromeres. In holocentric plants, centromere-specific proteins, at which spindle fibers usually attach, are arranged contiguously (line-like), in clusters along the chromosomes or in bands. Here, we summarize findings of ultrastructural investigations using immunolabeling with centromere-specific antibodies and super-resolution microscopy to demonstrate the structural diversity of plant centromeres. A classification of the different centromere types has been suggested based on the distribution of spindle attachment sites. Based on these findings we discuss the possible evolution and advantages of holocentricity, and potential strategies to segregate holocentric chromosomes correctly.

• Klíčová slova
• CENH3, CENP-A, Cuscuta, Lathyrus, Luzula, Pisum, Rhynchospora, clustered centromere, holocentromere, microtubule, monocentromere, structured illumination microscopy,
• MeSH
• buněčný cyklus MeSH
• centromera metabolismus   MeSH
• chromozomy rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• mikroskopie * MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• rostliny metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

3D super-resolution microscopy based on the direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) with primary Alexa-Fluor-647-conjugated antibodies is a powerful method for accessing changes of objects that could be normally resolved only by electron microscopy. Despite the fact that mitochondrial cristae yet to become resolved, we have indicated changes in cristae width and/or morphology by dSTORM of ATP-synthase F1 subunit α (F1α). Obtained 3D images were analyzed with the help of Ripley's K-function modeling spatial patterns or transferring them into distance distribution function. Resulting histograms of distances frequency distribution provide most frequent distances (MFD) between the localized single antibody molecules. In fasting state of model pancreatic β-cells, INS-1E, MFD between F1α were ~80 nm at 0 and 3 mM glucose, whereas decreased to 61 nm and 57 nm upon glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) at 11 mM and 20 mM glucose, respectively. Shorter F1α interdistances reflected cristae width decrease upon GSIS, since such repositioning of F1α correlated to average 20 nm and 15 nm cristae width at 0 and 3 mM glucose, and 9 nm or 8 nm after higher glucose simulating GSIS (11, 20 mM glucose, respectively). Also, submitochondrial entities such as nucleoids of mtDNA were resolved e.g. after bromo-deoxyuridine (BrDU) pretreatment using anti-BrDU dSTORM. MFD in distances distribution histograms reflected an average nucleoid diameter (<100 nm) and average distances between nucleoids (~1000 nm). Double channel PALM/dSTORM with Eos-lactamase-β plus anti-TFAM dSTORM confirmed the latter average inter-nucleoid distance. In conclusion, 3D single molecule (dSTORM) microscopy is a reasonable tool for studying mitochondrion.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D super-resolution microscopy, ATP-synthase α subunit, Distances frequency distribution histogram, Mitochondrial cristae, Mitochondrial nucleoids, Ripley's K-function,
• MeSH
• beta-buňky cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• buňky Hep G2 MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie přístrojové vybavení   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondriální DNA chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondriální membrány metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondriální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA vazebné proteiny MeSH
• mitochondriální DNA MeSH
• mitochondriální proteiny MeSH

The documentation of plant growth and development requires integrative and scalable approaches to investigate and spatiotemporally resolve various dynamic processes at different levels of plant body organization. The present update deals with vigorous developments in mesoscopy, microscopy and nanoscopy methods that have been translated to imaging of plant subcellular compartments, cells, tissues and organs over the past 3 years with the aim to report recent applications and reasonable expectations from current light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) and super-resolution microscopy (SRM) modalities. Moreover, the shortcomings and limitations of existing LSFM and SRM are discussed, particularly for their ability to accommodate plant samples and regarding their documentation potential considering spherical aberrations or temporal restrictions prohibiting the dynamic recording of fast cellular processes at the three dimensions. For a more comprehensive description, advances in living or fixed sample preparation methods are also included, supported by an overview of developments in labeling strategies successfully applied in plants. These strategies are practically documented by current applications employing model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., but also robust crop species such as Medicago sativa L. and Hordeum vulgare L. Over the past few years, the trend towards designing of integrative microscopic modalities has become apparent and it is expected that in the near future LSFM and SRM will be bridged to achieve broader multiscale plant imaging with a single platform.

• MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• rostlinné buňky ultrastruktura   MeSH
• vývoj rostlin * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Expansion microscopy (ExM) has become a powerful super-resolution method in cell biology. It is a simple, yet robust approach, which does not require any instrumentation or reagents beyond those present in a standard microscopy facility. In this study, we used kinetoplastid parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major, which possess a complex, yet well-defined microtubule-based cytoskeleton, to demonstrate that this method recapitulates faithfully morphology of structures as previously revealed by a combination of sophisticated electron microscopy (EM) approaches. Importantly, we also show that due to the rapidness of image acquisition and three-dimensional reconstruction of cellular volumes ExM is capable of complementing EM approaches by providing more quantitative data. This is demonstrated on examples of less well-appreciated microtubule structures, such as the neck microtubule of T. brucei or the pocket, cytosolic and multivesicular tubule-associated microtubules of L. major. We further demonstrate that ExM enables identifying cell types rare in a population, such as cells in mitosis and cytokinesis. Three-dimensional reconstruction of an entire volume of these cells provided details on the morphology of the mitotic spindle and the cleavage furrow. Finally, we show that established antibody markers of major cytoskeletal structures function well in ExM, which together with the ability to visualize proteins tagged with small epitope tags will facilitate studies of the kinetoplastid cytoskeleton.

• Klíčová slova
• Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei, expansion microscopy, microtubule-based cytoskeleton,
• MeSH
• elektronová mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• kinetochory metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• Kinetoplastida metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• Leishmania major metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• mikrotubuly metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• protozoální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• Trypanosoma brucei brucei metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• protozoální proteiny MeSH

Analysis of histone variants and epigenetic marks is dominated by genome-wide approaches in the form of chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) and related methods. Although uncontested in their value for single-copy genes, mapping the chromatin of DNA repeats is problematic for biochemical techniques that involve averaging of cell populations or analysis of clusters of tandem repeats in a single-cell analysis. Extending chromatin and DNA fibers allows us to study the epigenetics of individual repeats in their specific chromosomal context, and thus constitutes an important tool for gaining a complete understanding of the epigenetic organization of genomes. We report that using an optimized fiber extension protocol is essential in order to obtain more reproducible data and to minimize the clustering of fibers. We also demonstrate that the use of super-resolution microscopy is important for reliable evaluation of the distribution of histone modifications on individual fibers. Furthermore, we introduce a custom script for the analysis of methylation levels on DNA fibers and apply it to map the methylation of telomeres, ribosomal genes and centromeres.

• Klíčová slova
• Chromatin, DNA, Fiber, Methylation, Microscopy,
• MeSH
• chromatin genetika   MeSH
• chromatinová imunoprecipitace MeSH
• DNA genetika   MeSH
• metylace DNA * genetika   MeSH
• mikroskopie * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chromatin MeSH
• DNA MeSH