Aptamer-Based Cell Nucleus Imaging via Expansion Microscopy

Anal Chem. 2022 Apr 19;94(15):6044-6049. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00773. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

Abstract

Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a newly developed technology in recent years that enables nanoscale imaging under conventional microscopes. Herein, we report an aptamer-based ExM imaging strategy. A nucleus-targeting aptamer Ch4-1 was chemically labeled with a dye and an acrydite at each end to perform the functions of molecular recognition, fluorescence reporting, and gel anchoring. After binding cell nucleus, the dual labeled aptamer Ac-Ch4-1-FAM directly participated in gelation and anchored in polyacrylamide gel. After expanding the gel, high-resolution imaging was achieved by confocal microscopy. Multicolor ExM imaging was also realized by combining Ac-Ch4-1-FAM, antibodies and fluorescent dyes. This aptamer-based ExM could clearly image the chromatin morphology at different mitotic stages. The expansion process is simple and the aptamer labeling is easy. The aptamer-based ExM holds great promise in super-resolution imaging of cells and tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes* / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Oligonucleotides*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Oligonucleotides