TY - JOUR
T1 - Using single molecule imaging to explore intracellular heterogeneity
AU - Galbraith, James A.
AU - Galbraith, Catherine G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Despite more than 100 years of study, it is unclear if the movement of proteins inside the cell is best described as a mosh pit or an exquisitely choreographed dance. Recent studies suggest the latter. Local interactions induce molecular condensates such as liquid-liquid phase separations (LLPSs) or non-liquid, functionally significant molecular aggregates, including synaptic densities, nucleoli, and Amyloid fibrils. Molecular condensates trigger intracellular signaling and drive processes ranging from gene expression to cell division. However, the descriptions of condensates tend to be qualitative and correlative. Here, we indicate how single-molecule imaging and analyses can be applied to quantify condensates. We discuss the pros and cons of different techniques for measuring differences between transient molecular behaviors inside and outside condensates. Finally, we offer suggestions for how imaging and analyses from different time and space regimes can be combined to identify molecular behaviors indicative of condensates within the dynamic high-density intracellular environment.
AB - Despite more than 100 years of study, it is unclear if the movement of proteins inside the cell is best described as a mosh pit or an exquisitely choreographed dance. Recent studies suggest the latter. Local interactions induce molecular condensates such as liquid-liquid phase separations (LLPSs) or non-liquid, functionally significant molecular aggregates, including synaptic densities, nucleoli, and Amyloid fibrils. Molecular condensates trigger intracellular signaling and drive processes ranging from gene expression to cell division. However, the descriptions of condensates tend to be qualitative and correlative. Here, we indicate how single-molecule imaging and analyses can be applied to quantify condensates. We discuss the pros and cons of different techniques for measuring differences between transient molecular behaviors inside and outside condensates. Finally, we offer suggestions for how imaging and analyses from different time and space regimes can be combined to identify molecular behaviors indicative of condensates within the dynamic high-density intracellular environment.
KW - Biomolecular condensates
KW - Liquid-liquid phase separations (LLPS)
KW - Molecular aggregates
KW - Single-molecule super-resolution
KW - Single-molecule tracking
KW - Space-time trade-off
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biocel.2023.106455
DO - 10.1016/j.biocel.2023.106455
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37586643
AN - SCOPUS:85170272264
SN - 1357-2725
VL - 163
JO - International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
JF - International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology
M1 - 106455
ER -