We present video-rate (28 frames per second) far-field optical imaging with a focal spot size of 62 nanometers in living cells. Fluorescently labeled synaptic vesicles inside the axons of cultured neurons were recorded with stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy in a 2.5-micrometer by 1.8-micrometer field of view. By reducing the cross-sectional area of the focal spot by about a factor of 18 below the diffraction limit (260 nanometers), STED allowed us to map and describe the vesicle mobility within the highly confined space of synaptic boutons. Although restricted within boutons, the vesicle movement was substantially faster in nonbouton areas, consistent with the observation that a sizable vesicle pool continuously transits through the axons. Our study demonstrates the emerging ability of optical microscopy to investigate intracellular physiological processes on the nanoscale in real time.

Oligodendrocytes secrete vesicles into the extracellular space, where they might play a role in neuron–glia communication. These exosomes are small vesicles with a diameter of 50–100 nm that are formed within multivesicular bodies and are released after fusion with the plasma membrane. The intracellular pathways that generate exosomes are poorly defined. Because Rab family guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) together with their regulators are important membrane trafficking organizers, we investigated which Rab GTPase-activating proteins interfere with exosome release. We find that TBC1D10A–C regulate exosome secretion in a catalytic activity–dependent manner. We show that Rab35 is the target of TBC1D10A–C and that the inhibition of Rab35 function leads to intracellular accumulation of endosomal vesicles and impairs exosome secretion. Rab35 localizes to the surface of oligodendroglia in a GTP-dependent manner, where it increases the density of vesicles, suggesting a function in docking or tethering. These findings provide a basis for understanding the biogenesis and function of exosomes in the central nervous system.

Highlights d Mitochondria exist in temporally stable spatial 30 mm compartments in dendrites d Cytoskeletal tethering determines size and stability of mitochondrial compartments d Local depletion of mitochondrial compartments affects synaptic plasticity d Mitochondrial compartments provide energy within spatially confined boundaries

Rationale Transverse tubules (TTs) couple electric surface signals to remote intracellular Ca2+ release units (CRUs). Diffraction-limited imaging studies have proposed loss of TT components as disease mechanism in heart failure (HF). Objectives Objectives were to develop quantitative super-resolution strategies for live-cell imaging of TT membranes in intact cardiomyocytes and to show that TT structures are progressively remodeled during HF development, causing early CRU dysfunction. Methods and Results Using stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, we characterized individual TTs with nanometric resolution as direct readout of local membrane morphology 4 and 8 weeks after myocardial infarction (4pMI and 8pMI). Both individual and network TT properties were investigated by quantitative image analysis. The mean area of TT cross sections increased progressively from 4pMI to 8pMI. Unexpectedly, intact TT networks showed differential changes. Longitudinal and oblique TTs were significantly increased at 4pMI, whereas transversal components appeared decreased. Expression of TT-associated proteins junctophilin-2 and caveolin-3 was significantly changed, correlating with network component remodeling. Computational modeling of spatial changes in HF through heterogeneous TT reorganization and RyR2 orphaning (5000 of 20 000 CRUs) uncovered a local mechanism of delayed subcellular Ca2+ release and action potential prolongation. Conclusions This study introduces STED nanoscopy for live mapping of TT membrane structures. During early HF development, the local TT morphology and associated proteins were significantly altered, leading to differential network remodeling and Ca2+ release dyssynchrony. Our data suggest that TT remodeling during HF development involves proliferative membrane changes, early excitation-contraction uncoupling, and network fracturing.