Liquid-phase scanning electron microscopy for single membrane protein imaging

Li Wang; Changshuo Li; Jintao Li; Xiaofei Zhang; Xiaochen Li; Yiran Cui; Yang Xia; Yinqi Zhang; Shengcheng Mao; Yuan Ji; Wang Sheng; Xiaodong Han

doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.081

Liquid-phase scanning electron microscopy for single membrane protein imaging

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2022 Jan 29:590:163-168. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.081. Epub 2021 Dec 28.

Authors

Li Wang¹, Changshuo Li¹, Jintao Li², Xiaofei Zhang¹, Xiaochen Li¹, Yiran Cui¹, Yang Xia², Yinqi Zhang¹, Shengcheng Mao¹, Yuan Ji³, Wang Sheng⁴, Xiaodong Han⁵

Affiliations

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Property of Solids, Institute of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.
² Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Beijing International Science and Technology, Cooperation Base of Antivirus Drug, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.
³ Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Property of Solids, Institute of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China. Electronic address: jiyuan@bjut.edu.cn.
⁴ Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental and Viral Oncology, Beijing International Science and Technology, Cooperation Base of Antivirus Drug, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China. Electronic address: shengwang@bjut.edu.cn.
⁵ Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Property of Solids, Institute of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China. Electronic address: xdhan@bjut.edu.cn.

PMID: 34979317
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.12.081

Abstract

Liquid-phase electron microscopy is highly desirable for observing biological samples in their native liquid state at high resolution. We developed liquid imaging approaches for biological cells using scanning electron microscopy. Novel approaches included scanning transmission electron imaging using a liquid-cell apparatus (LC-STEM), as well as correlative cathodoluminescence and electron microscopy (CCLEM) imaging. LC-STEM enabled imaging at a ∼2 nm resolution and excellent contrast for the precise recognition of localization, distribution, and configuration of individually labeled membrane proteins on the native cells in solution. CCLEM improved the resolution of fluorescent images down to 10 nm. Liquid SEM technologies will bring unique and wide applications to the study of the structure and function of cells and membrane proteins in their near-native states at the monomolecular level.

Keywords: Cathodoluminescence; Liquid-phase scanning electron microscopy; Membrane proteins.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cell Line, Tumor
ErbB Receptors / ultrastructure
Fluorescence
Humans
Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure*
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning*

Substances

Membrane Proteins
ErbB Receptors