2. Academic Validation
  3. In Vitro Reconstitution and Imaging of Microtubule Dynamics by Fluorescence and Label-free Microscopy

In Vitro Reconstitution and Imaging of Microtubule Dynamics by Fluorescence and Label-free Microscopy

  • STAR Protoc. 2020 Nov 24;1(3):100177. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100177.
William Graham Hirst 1 2 3,  Christine Kiefer 4,  Mohammad Kazem Abdosamadi 4,  Erik Schäffer 4,  Simone Reber 1 5 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10115, Germany.
  • 2 Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
  • 3 Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
  • 4 Cellular Nanoscience (ZMBP), Universität Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
  • 5 University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Berlin 13353, Germany.
PMID: 33377071 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100177
Abstract

Dynamic microtubules are essential for many processes in the lives of eukaryotic cells. To study and understand the mechanisms of microtubule dynamics and regulation, in vitro reconstitution with purified components has proven a vital approach. Imaging microtubule dynamics can be instructive for a given species, isoform composition, or biochemical modification. Here, we describe two methods that visualize microtubule dynamics at high speed and high contrast: (1) total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and (2) label-free interference reflection microscopy. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hirst et al. (2020).

Keywords

Biophysics; Cell Biology; Microscopy.

Figures
Products