Whole-Cell, 3D, and Multicolor STED Imaging with Exchangeable Fluorophores

Abstract

We demonstrate stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy of whole bacterial and eukaryotic cells using fluorogenic labels that reversibly bind to their target structure. A constant exchange of labels guarantees the removal of photobleached fluorophores and their replacement by intact fluorophores, thereby circumventing bleaching-related limitations of STED super-resolution imaging. We achieve a constant labeling density and demonstrate a fluorescence signal for long and theoretically unlimited acquisition times. Using this concept, we demonstrate whole-cell, 3D, multicolor, and live-cell STED microscopy.

Keywords: Exchange-based STED microscopy; PAINT; fluorogenic labels; live-cell STED microscopy; multicolor imaging; volumetric imaging.