Single-plane illumination (SPIM) or total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopes can be combined with fast and single-molecule-sensitive cameras to allow spatially resolved fluorescence (cross-) correlation spectroscopy (FCS or FCCS, hereafter referred to FCS/FCCS). This creates a powerful quantitative bioimaging tool that can generate spatially resolved mobility and interaction maps with hundreds to thousands of pixels per sample. These massively parallel imaging schemes also cause less photodamage than conventional single-point confocal microscopy-based FCS/FCCS. Here we provide guidelines for imaging FCS/FCCS measurements on commercial and custom-built microscopes (including sample preparation, setup calibration, data acquisition and evaluation), as well as anticipated results for a variety of in vitro and in vivo samples. For a skilled user of an available SPIM or TIRF setup, sample preparation, microscope alignment, data acquisition and data fitting, as described in this protocol, will take ∼1 d, depending on the sample and the mode of imaging.

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are principal components of the cytoskeleton, a dynamic integrated system of structural proteins that provides the functional architecture of metazoan cells. They are major contributors to the elasticity of cells and tissues due to their high mechanical stability and intrinsic flexibility. The basic building block for the assembly of IFs is a rod-like, 60-nm-long tetrameric complex made from two antiparallel, half-staggered coiled coils. In low ionic strength, tetramers form stable complexes that rapidly assemble into filaments upon raising the ionic strength. The first assembly products, "frozen" by instantaneous chemical fixation and viewed by electron microscopy, are 60-nm-long "unit-length" filaments (ULFs) that apparently form by lateral in-register association of tetramers. ULFs are the active elements of IF growth, undergoing longitudinal end-to-end annealing with one another and with growing filaments. Originally, we have employed quantitative time-lapse atomic force and electron microscopy to analyze the kinetics of vimentin-filament assembly starting from a few seconds to several hours. To obtain detailed quantitative insight into the productive reactions that drive ULF formation, we now introduce a "stopped-flow" approach in combination with static light-scattering measurements. Thereby, we determine the basic rate constants for lateral assembly of tetramers to ULFs. Processing of the recorded data by a global fitting procedure enables us to describe the hierarchical steps of IF formation. Specifically, we propose that tetramers are consumed within milliseconds to yield octamers that are obligatory intermediates toward ULF formation. Although the interaction of tetramers is diffusion controlled, it is strongly driven by their geometry to mediate effective subunit targeting. Importantly, our model conclusively reflects the previously described occurrence of polymorphic ULF and mature filaments in terms of their number of tetramers per cross section.

Abstract:Single plane illumination microscopy based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (SPIM-FCS) is a new method for imaging FCS in 3D samples, providing diffusion coefficients, transport, flow velocities and concentrations in an imaging mode. SPIM-FCS records correlation functions over a whole plane in a sample, which requires array detectors for recording the fluorescence signal. Several types of image sensors are suitable for FCS. They differ in properties such as effective area per pixel, quantum efficiency, noise level and read-out speed. Here we compare the performance of several low light array detectors based on three different technologies: (1) Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays, (2) passive-pixel electron multiplying charge coupled device (EMCCD) and (3) active-pixel scientific-grade complementary metal oxide semiconductor cameras (sCMOS). We discuss the influence of the detector characteristics on the effective FCS observation volume, and demonstrate that light sheet based SPIM-FCS provides absolute diffusion coefficients. This is verified by parallel measurements with confocal FCS, single particle tracking (SPT), and the determination of concentration gradients in space and time. While EMCCD cameras have a temporal resolution in the millisecond range, sCMOS cameras and SPAD arrays can extend the time resolution of SPIM-FCS down to 10 μs or lower. References and links1. K. M. Berland, P. T. So, and E. Gratton, "Two-photon fluorescence correlation spectroscopy: method and application to the intracellular environment," Biophy. J. 68, 694-701 (1995). 2. P. Schwille, U. Haupts, S. Maiti, and W. W. Webb, "Molecular dynamics in living cells observed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with one-and two-photon excitation," Biophy. J. 77, 2251-2265 (1999). 3. R. Brock, G. Vàmosi, G. Vereb, and T. M. Jovin, "Rapid characterization of green fluorescent protein fusion proteins on the molecular and cellular level by fluorescence correlation microscopy," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96, 10123-10128 (1999 0-1 (2010). 53. Z. Petrásek, P. Schwille, and Z. Petrášek, "Precise measurement of diffusion coefficients using scanning fluorescence correlation spectroscopy," Biophy.