Visualization-Based Characterization of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation
In addition to typical membrane-bound organelles, cells utilize many membrane-free organelles to compartmentalize and concentrate specific molecules. These structures play different roles in various biological processes and are also increasingly associated with protein aggregation diseases. Studies have shown that the potential mechanism for assembling these biomolecular condensates is liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which is involved in various biological processes. The first experiments to reveal the role of LLPS of biomolecular condensates in cell compartmentalization were based on modern light microscopy methods. This approach has inspired the use of microscopy for visualizing biomolecular condensates and has opened up the possibility of ex vivo phase separation studies of biomolecular condensates.
Customized Services
Depending on the strength of the driving force interactions in LLPS, biomolecular condensates range in size from a few hundred nanometers to a few micrometers. CD BioSciences provides various microscopy platforms to visualize biomolecular condensates. We will select the most appropriate microscopy technique for your project to easily distinguish and characterize them. We design streamlined workflows to provide superior stability, sensitivity and precision that can be easily implemented in any lab equipped with an inverted total internal reflection microscope.
We expect that the microscopy platforms will help you study large and small cohesions under physiological and pathological conditions, and will deepen your understanding of LLPS mechanisms.
Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging Platform
We provide custom single-molecule fluorescence experimental procedures to probe protein-RNA interactions under LLPS. We use different fluorescent dyes to label target structures, such as fluorescent dyes, immunolabeling, fluorescent fusion proteins, self-labeling tags, etc.
Confocal Microscopy Platform
We have advanced confocal fluorescence microscopy platforms to analyze and study LLPS in cell-generated biomolecular condensates in the 200 nm-1 mm range, including measurement of thermodynamic and material properties of the condensates with minimal temporal resolution within milliseconds.
Super-Resolution Imaging Microscopy Platform
We offer several complete super-resolution microscopy method to analyze LLPS of small size (1-2 μm) biomolecular condensates including Stimulated Emission Dissipation Microscopy (STED), Structural Illumination Microscopy (SIM), Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM) and Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM).
Electron Microscopy Platform
We offer a cutting-edge electron microscopy platform to precisely observe biomolecular condensates in a label-free manner that can capture the nucleation and initial growth steps of LLPS. In addition, we combine microscopy and in vitro recombination assays to help our customers study LLPS.
Our cutting-edge microscopy platforms make it possible to visualize the LLPS process in biomolecular condensates. Depending on the size of the biomolecular condensate and the advantages of the different microscopes, we will design a customized visualization solution for your liquid-liquid phase separation characterization. If you have any special requirements for our services, please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to working together with your attractive projects.
For research use only, not intended for any clinical use.
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