Localization Imaging of HORMAD Proteins and Meiotic Cohesins

July 2021

During meiotic prophase I homologous chromosomes undergo pairing/synapsis and paternal and maternal chromosomes exchange genetic information. It is known that HORMAD proteins (HORMAD1 and HORMAD2) localize along the unsynapsed chromosome axes at that time, and that they monitor homolog synapsis. However, the molecular mechanism by which HORMAD proteins, which do not contain a definitive DNA-binding domain, localize to the chromosomal axes is still unclear. This application note introduces the study that clarified the mechanism by which HORMAD1 localizes to chromosome axes, and its interactions with the meiotic cohesins RAD21L and REC8, this study being the result of joint research conducted by Dr. Yasuhiro FUJIWARA of the Laboratory of Pathology and Development, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, and Dr. Kei-ichiro ISHIGURO of the Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University.

Super-resolution imaging of double-stained neurons using DNA-Paint

October 2020

Dr. Noriko Koganezawa (Life Science), Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, focuses her research on drebrin, an actin-binding protein that is thought to play an important role in cognitive function. Drebrin accumulates in the posterior synaptic region (dendritic spine) of mature neurons, but when synaptic dysfunction occurs, this accumulation disappears. Also, when the NMDA receptor is activated by glutamate or the like, the accumulation of drebrin is transiently eliminated (Figs.1 and 2). Focusing on the dynamics of drebrin, Dr. Koganezawa is conducting research to verify its effects on cognitive function.

In this Application Note, we introduce examples of image acquisition of changes in the localization of drebrin by glutamate stimulation using the N-STORM super-resolution microscope and quantitative evaluation by cluster analysis.

Visualization of microglia-neuron junctions with super-resolution and confocal microscopy

July 2020

Microglia are the main immune cells in the brain, and play roles in brain homeostasis and neurological diseases. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying microglia-neuron communication remain unclear. Dr. Csaba Cserép, Dr. Balázs Pósfai and colleagues, (Laboratory of Neuroimmunology led by Dr. Ádám Dénes, Institute of Experimental Medicine) identified an interaction site between neuronal cell bodies and microglial processes in the mouse brain and studied the function of microglia (C. Cserép and B. Pósfai et al., Science 10.1126/science.aax6752 (2020)). In this Application Note, we introduce how the structure of neuron-microglia junctions was revealed on a nano scale resolution using the confocal and super-resolution microscopes.

N-STORM with DNA-PAINT for Reliable Multicolor & 3D Single Molecule Localization Imaging

November 2016

DNA-PAINT is a technique for single molecule localization microscopy. The sample is immunolabeled with specialized secondary antibodies conjugated to short DNA oligomers known as docking strands. Complimentary oligomers conjugated to fluorophore, known as imaging strands, are introduced in the imaging buffer and will transiently bind to docking strands – allowing single molecules to be localized. Herein multicolor and 3D DNA-PAINT is demonstrated on the Nikon N-STORM 4.0 system.

Quantitative Cluster Analysis Applications for N-STORM

October 2016

Nikon’s N-STORM super-resolution microscope is applied to mapping the distribution of nucleosomes on chromatin fibers, shining a light on the mechanisms of chromatin folding, gene expression, and pluripotency. Multicolor STORM is used to explore how nucleosome distribution differs between differentiated and pluripotent stem cells and correlates with the distribution of other important factors in replication, such as RNA Polymerase II.

Quantitative Analysis Tools and Correlative Imaging Applications for N-STORM

November 2015

Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) has had a significant impact on our understanding of nano-scale biological processes. In this application note, we see how Nikon’s N-STORM system, combined with quantitative analysis tools, enables single molecule level studies of cannabinoid signaling in the brain. Correlative 3D-STORM, confocal microscopy, and patch-clamp electrophysiology is also explored.