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Popularization of super-resolution imaging techniques has allowed cell biologists to probe cell structure and function in previously unattainable detail. These methodologies continue to evolve, with new improvements that allow tailoring the available techniques to a particular need and application. This collection showcases primary research articles, reviews and protocols and highlights these recent developments by exemplifying the new, interesting applications of super-resolution microscopy as well as related tool development. We hope that this compilation of works will inspire future research with the aim to resolve outstanding challenges and further expand the utility of super-resolution imaging across biological and medical disciplines.
Formation of inter-organelle contacts between mitochondria and lysosomes, regulated by lysosomal RAB7 GTP hydrolysis, allows for bidirectional regulation of mitochondrial and lysosomal dynamics.
The authors show that Munc13-1 molecules form multiple supramolecular self-assemblies that serve as vesicular release sites. Having multiple Munc13-1 assemblies affords a stable synaptic weight, which confers robustness of synaptic computation.
In budding yeast, glucose withdrawal, via the Rag GTPases, leads to TORC1 inhibition through its re-organization into a giant, vacuole-associated helix named a TOROID (TORC1 organized in inhibited domain).
Shi et al. map the ciliary transition zone by STORM imaging, characterizing protein arrangements in nested rings and finding that mutations in RPGRIP1L that are associated with the ciliopathy Joubert syndrome disrupt SMO ciliary localization.
Salmonella Typhimurium E3 ligase LUBAC generates linear polyubiquitin patches in the ubiquitin coat that serves as a signalling platform for the recruitment of Optineurin and Nemo for xenophagy and local activation of NF-κB, respectively.
Deubiquitinase OTULIN targets linear (M1-linked) ubiquitin chain patches on cytosolic Salmonella Typhimurium to modulate NEMO, IKKα/IKKβ and NF-ĸB signalling and regulate secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial proliferation.
Using large-scale, super-resolution microscopy, Sochacki et al. define the spatial organization of 19 proteins within clathrin-coated pits during distinct stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
Using structured illumination microscopy, Beach et al. and Hu et al. visualize the assembly of myosin II filaments in cells, describing a filament-partitioning mechanism, and long-range self-organization of filaments, respectively.
Using structured illumination microscopy, Beach et al. and Hu et al. visualize the assembly of myosin II filaments in cells, describing a filament-partitioning mechanism, and long-range self-organization of filaments, respectively.
Bertocchi and colleagues describe the organization of cadherin-based adhesions using super-resolution microscopy. They find that α-catenin is important for vinculin localization and observe a conformational change in vinculin following its activation.