Super-resolution Activity imaging

The biomolecules in a cell are constantly conducting their biochemical business. They do not work just anywhere, but seek out specific "rooms" to perform their particular tasks.

In cells, these dedicated spaces are called micro-/nano-domains, and are more difficult to understand. First, they are below the optical diffraction limit and invisible to normal microscopy. Second, revealing a nano-domain's location is only part of the story. Since they have an activity dimension, we also need to detect and quantify which activity is taking place and the molecular players involved. Both of these characteristics will ebb and swell - so we must follow how nano-domains change over time in live cells.

We continue to refine a series of methods to visualize this, and now have the tools to examine the intricate cell biochemistry that was previously hidden behind the closed doors of nano-domains.