Modified aptamers enable quantitative sub-10-nm cellular DNA-PAINT imaging.

Strauss, Sebastian; Nickels, Philipp C; Strauss, Maximilian T; Jimenez Sabinina, Vilma; Ellenberg, Jan; Carter, Jeffrey D; Gupta, Shashi; Janjic, Nebojsa et al. · Nat Methods · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Although current implementations of super-resolution microscopy are technically approaching true molecular-scale resolution, this has not translated to imaging of biological specimens, because of the large size of conventional affinity reagents. Here we introduce slow off-rate modified aptamers (SOMAmers) as small and specific labeling reagents for use with DNA points accumulation in nanoscale topography (DNA-PAINT). To demonstrate the achievable resolution, specificity, and multiplexing capability of SOMAmers, we labeled and imaged both transmembrane and intracellular targets in fixed and live cells.

Medical subject headings