Label-free Imaging and Bending Analysis of Microtubules by ROCS Microscopy and Optical Trapping.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical manipulation of single cytoskeleton filaments and their monitoring over long times is difficult because of fluorescence bleaching or phototoxic protein degradation. The integration of label-free microscopy techniques, capable of imaging freely diffusing, weak scatterers such as microtubules (MTs) in real-time, and independent of their orientation, with optical trapping and tracking systems, would allow many new applications. Here, we show that rotating-coherent-scattering microscopy (ROCS) in dark-field mode can also provide strong contrast for structures far from the coverslip such as arrangements of isolated MTs and networks. We could acquire thousands of images over up to 30 min without loss in image contrast or visible photodamage. We further demonstrate the combination of R

SUBMITTER: Koch MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5773756 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature