title: Fluorescence cryo-microscopy: current challenges and prospects.
abstract: Studying biological structures with fine details does not only require a microscope with high resolution, but also a sample preparation process that preserves the structures in a near-native state. Live-cell imaging is restricted mostly to the field of light microscopy. For studies requiring much higher resolution, fast freezing techniques (vitrification) are successfully used to immobilize the sample in a near-native state for imaging with electron and X-ray cryo-microscopy. Fluorescence cryo-microscopy combines imaging of vitrified samples with the advantages of fluorescence labeling of biological structures. Technical considerations as well as the behavior of fluorophores at low temperatures have to be taken into account for developing or adapting super-resolution methods under cryo conditions to exploit the full potential of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK; Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK. Electronic address: kay@strubi.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grünewald
mesh_terms: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes