Name: imaging of podocytic proteins nephrin, actin, and podocin with expansion microscopy
Uploaded: 2021-04-23T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging of Podocytic Proteins Nephrin, Actin, and Podocin with Expansion Microscopy at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Blanka Duvnjak and Nikola Kuhr for their excellent technical assistance.

1. Splitting and seeding of cells
<ol>
	<li>Warm up sterile Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle&#39;s Medium (DMEM) including 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), sterile Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and sterile trypsin to 37 &#176;C. Activate the clean bench.</li>
	<li>Prepare a 6-well plate by adding one sterile glass cover slip (10 mm) to each well using sterile forceps.</li>
	<li>Put a 10 cm cell culture dish with Cos7 cells under the clean bench. Under the clean bench, aspirate the cells&#39; medium using a vacuum device.</li...

<ol>
	<li>Matsushita, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Association+of+estimated+glomerular+filtration+rate+and+albuminuria+with+all-cause+and+cardiovascular+mortality+in+general+population+cohorts:+a+collaborative+meta-analysis.">Association of estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general population cohorts: a collaborative meta-analysis.</a> Lancet. 375 (9731), 2073-2081 (2010).</li><li>Faul, C., Asanuma, K., Yanagida-Asanuma, E., Kim, K., Mundel, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Actin+up:+regulation+of+podocyte+structure+and+function+by+components+of+the+actin+cytoskeleton.">Actin up: regulation of podocyte structure and function by components of the actin cytoskeleton.</a> Trends in Cell Biology. 17 (9), 428-437 (2007).</li><li>Saleem, M. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Co-localization+of+nephrin,+podocin,+and+the+actin+cytoskeleton+-+Evidence+for+a+role+in+podocyte+foot+process+formation.">Co-localization of nephrin, podocin, and the actin cytoskeleton - Evidence for a role in podocyte foot process formation.</a> American Journal of Pathology. 161 (4), 1459-1466 (2002).</li><li>Kestila, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Positionally+cloned+gene+for+a+novel+glomerular+protein+-+nephrin+-+is+mutated+in+congenital+nephrotic+syndrome.">Positionally cloned gene for a novel glomerular protein - nephrin - is mutated in congenital nephrotic syndrome.</a> Molecular Cell. 1 (4), 575-582 (1998).</li><li>Huber, T. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Podocin-mediated+recruitment+of+nephrin+into+lipid+rafts+is+required+for+efficient+nephrin+signaling.">Podocin-mediated recruitment of nephrin into lipid rafts is required for efficient nephrin signaling.</a> Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 14, 8 (2003).</li><li>Boute, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=NPHS2,+encoding+the+glomerular+protein+podocin,+is+mutated+in+autosomal+recessive+steroid-resistant+nephrotic+syndrome.">NPHS2, encoding the glomerular protein podocin, is mutated in autosomal recessive steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.</a> Nature Genetics. 24 (4), 349-354 (2000).</li><li>Galbraith, C. G., Galbraith, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Super-resolution+microscopy+at+a+glance.">Super-resolution microscopy at a glance.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 124 (10), 1607-1611 (2011).</li><li>Willig, K. I., Rizzoli, S. O., Westphal, V., Jahn, R., Hell, S. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=STED+microscopy+reveals+that+synaptotagmin+remains+clustered+after+synaptic+vesicle+exocytosis.">STED microscopy reveals that synaptotagmin remains clustered after synaptic vesicle exocytosis.</a> Nature. 440 (7086), 935-939 (2006).</li><li>van de Linde, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Direct+stochastic+optical+reconstruction+microscopy+with+standard+fluorescent+probes.">Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy with standard fluorescent probes.</a> Nature Protocols. 6 (7), 991-1009 (2011).</li><li>Rust, M. J., Bates, M., Zhuang, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sub-diffraction-limit+imaging+by+stochastic+optical+reconstruction+microscopy+(STORM).">Sub-diffraction-limit imaging by stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM).</a> Nature Methods. 3 (10), 793-795 (2006).</li><li>Testa, I., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multicolor+fluorescence+nanoscopy+in+fixed+and+living+cells+by+exciting+conventional+fluorophores+with+a+single+wavelength.">Multicolor fluorescence nanoscopy in fixed and living cells by exciting conventional fluorophores with a single wavelength.</a> Biophysical Journal. 99 (8), 2686-2694 (2010).</li><li>Wassie, A. T., Zhao, Y., Boyden, E. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expansion+microscopy:+principles+and+uses+in+biological+research.">Expansion microscopy: principles and uses in biological research.</a> Nature Methods. 16 (1), 33-41 (2019).</li><li>Tillberg, P. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein-retention+expansion+microscopy+of+cells+and+tissues+labeled+using+standard+fluorescent+proteins+and+antibodies.">Protein-retention expansion microscopy of cells and tissues labeled using standard fluorescent proteins and antibodies.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 34 (9), 987-992 (2016).</li><li>Truckenbrodt, S., Sommer, C., Rizzoli, S. O., Danzl, J. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+practical+guide+to+optimization+in+X10+expansion+microscopy.">A practical guide to optimization in X10 expansion microscopy.</a> Nature Protocols. 14 (3), 832-863 (2019).</li><li>Truckenbrodt, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=X10+expansion+microscopy+enables+25-nm+resolution+on+conventional+microscopes.">X10 expansion microscopy enables 25-nm resolution on conventional microscopes.</a> Embo Reports. 19 (9), (2018).</li><li>Chang, J. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Iterative+expansion+microscopy.">Iterative expansion microscopy.</a> Nature Methods. 14 (6), 593-599 (2017).</li><li>Chozinski, T. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=nanoscale+optical+imaging+of+mouse+and+human+kidney+via+expansion+microscopy.">nanoscale optical imaging of mouse and human kidney via expansion microscopy.</a> Scientific Reports. 8 (1), 10396 (2018).</li><li>Richter, K. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Glyoxal+as+an+alternative+fixative+to+formaldehyde+in+immunostaining+and+super-resolution+microscopy.">Glyoxal as an alternative fixative to formaldehyde in immunostaining and super-resolution microscopy.</a> The EMBO Journal. 37 (1), 139-159 (2018).</li><li>Rinschen, M. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+deep+mapping+of+the+cultured+podocyte+proteome+uncovers+shifts+in+proteostatic+mechanisms+during+differentiation.">Quantitative deep mapping of the cultured podocyte proteome uncovers shifts in proteostatic mechanisms during differentiation.</a> American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology. 311 (3), 404-417 (2016).</li><li>Asano, S. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Expansion+microscopy:+protocols+for+imaging+proteins+and+RNA+in+cells+and+tissues.">Expansion microscopy: protocols for imaging proteins and RNA in cells and tissues.</a> Current Protocols in Cell Biology. 80 (1), 56 (2018).</li><li>Wen, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+direct+grafting+strategies+via+trivalent+anchoring+for+enabling+lipid+membrane+and+cytoskeleton+staining+in+expansion+microscopy.">Evaluation of direct grafting strategies via trivalent anchoring for enabling lipid membrane and cytoskeleton staining in expansion microscopy.</a> ACS Nano. 14 (7), 7860-7867 (2020).</li><li>Chen, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nanoscale+imaging+of+RNA+with+expansion+microscopy.">Nanoscale imaging of RNA with expansion microscopy.</a> Nature Methods. 13 (8), 679-684 (2016).</li><li>Gambarotto, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Imaging+cellular+ultrastructures+using+expansion+microscopy+(U-ExM).">Imaging cellular ultrastructures using expansion microscopy (U-ExM).</a> Nature Methods. 16 (1), 71-74 (2019).</li><li>Zhao, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nanoscale+imaging+of+clinical+specimens+using+pathology-optimized+expansion+microscopy.">Nanoscale imaging of clinical specimens using pathology-optimized expansion microscopy.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 35 (8), 757-764 (2017).</li></ol>

The presented method enables the investigator to visualize cellular proteins, e.g., podocin, nephrin, and cytoskeletal components, e.g., F-actin. Within this protocol, transfected cos7 cells are used as a model to study interaction of slit diaphragm proteins with F-actin. Unfortunately, immortalized podocyte cell lines do not express sufficient endogenous amounts of slit diaphragm proteins19.
With this method, cellular proteins can be visualized with nanoscale resolutio...

Albuminuria is a surrogate parameter of cardiovascular risk and results from disruption of the glomerular filter1. The glomerular filter is composed of the fenestrated endothelium, the glomerular basement membrane and the slit diaphragm formed by podocytes. Primary and secondary foot processes of podocytes wrap around the capillary wall of the glomerulum2. The delicate structure of foot processes is maintained by cortical actin bundles which also serve as anchors for multiple slit diaphragm proteins and other adaptor proteins2. The slit diaphragm&#39;s backbone protein is called nephrin and interacts in a homophilic manner with nephrin molecules of opposing podocytes. Via diverse adaptor proteins, nephrin is linked to the actin cytoskeleton2,3. Mutations in the nephrin-encoding gene NPHS1 lead to nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type4.
One of nephrin&#39;s interacting proteins is podocin, a hairpin-like protein of the stomatin family3. Podocin recruits nephrin to lipid rafts and links it to the actin cytoskeleton5. Podocin is encoded by the NPHS2 gene. Mutations in NPHS2 lead to steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome6.
To visualize and co-localize actin adaptor proteins, immunofluorescence techniques may be used. Unfortunately, the diffraction barrier of the light limits the resolution of conventional fluorescence microscopes to 200-350 nm7. Novel microscopy techniques, e.g., stimulated emission depletion (STED)8, photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM)9, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM or dSTORM) or ground state deletion microscopy followed by individual molecule return (GSDIM)9,10,11, enable a resolution up to approximately 10 nm. However, these super resolution techniques require highly expensive microscopes, well-trained personnel and are therefore not available in many laboratories.
Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a novel and simple technique that enables super resolution imaging with conventional microscopes and is potentially available to a large research community12. In protein retention expansion microscopy (proExM), the sample of interest (cells or tissue) is fixed and stained with fluorophores13. Proteins within the sample are then covalently anchored by a small molecule (6-((Acryloyl)amino)hexanoic acid, succinimidyl ester, AcX) into a swellable hydrogel13. Through enzymatic digestion with proteinase K (ProK), proteins and fluorophores maintain their relative position within the gel after expansion13. After swelling of the gel, the sample expands up to 4.5-fold (90-fold volumetric expansion) leading to an effective lateral resolution of approximately 60-70 nm (300 nm/4.5). Modifications of this technique can even allow for a 10-fold expansion (1,000-fold volumetric expansion), rendering a resolution of 20-30 nm on conventional microscopes14,15,16.
Glomerular structures of mouse and human kidneys have been visualized via ExM17. Within this paper, we present a detailed proExM protocol to visualize super resolution images of F-actin and the actin-adapter protein podocin within cells using a conventional fluorescence microscope.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Acrylamide &#62;99%</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A3553-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6-((Acryloyl)amino)hexanoic acid, succinimidyl ester, Acryloyl-X, SE</td>
			<td>invitrogen</td>
			<td>A-20770</td>
			<td>store up to 4 months</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>APS</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A3678-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Deckgl&#228;ser (cover glasses)</td>
			<td>Engelbrecht</td>
			<td>K12432</td>
			<td>24x32mm #1.0</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Diamont cutter</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>201-0392</td>
			<td>for cutting the cover slips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Guanidine HCl</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G3272-100G</td>
			<td>8M Stock can be kept at RT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Marten hair paintbrush</td>
			<td>Leon Hardy</td>
			<td>3 (770)</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#34;Menzel&#34; Deckgl&#228;ser (cover glasses)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fischer&#160;</td>
			<td>15654786</td>
			<td>24x24mm #1.5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N,N`-Methylenbisacrylamide</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>M7256-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Objekttr&#228;ger UniMark</td>
			<td>Marienfeld</td>
			<td>703010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Proteinase K</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>P8107S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Acrylate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>408220</td>
			<td>check purity&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Bicarbonate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S5761</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Staining chamber</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>produced at the university&#39;s workshop</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TEMED</td>
			<td>ROTH</td>
			<td>2367.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6-Well glass bottom plates</td>
			<td>Cellvis</td>
			<td>P06-1.5H-N</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibodies</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Actin-ExM 546&#160;</td>
			<td>chrometra</td>
			<td>non-available</td>
			<td>1:40</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti Podocin produced in rabbit</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P-0372-200UL</td>
			<td>1:200</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Donkey anti guinea-pig CF633</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>SAB4600129-50UL</td>
			<td>1:200</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat anti rabbit 488</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>A11034</td>
			<td>1:1000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Guinea pig anti nephrin</td>
			<td>Origene</td>
			<td>BP5030</td>
			<td>1:100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FIJI</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Visiview</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>microscope</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AXIO Observer Z1</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>non-available</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

imaging of podocytic proteins nephrin, actin, and podocin with expansion microscopy

Disruption of the glomerular filter composed of the glomerular endothelium, glomerular basement membrane and podocytes, results in albuminuria. Podocyte foot processes contain actin bundles that bind to cytoskeletal adaptor proteins such as podocin. Those adaptor proteins, such as podocin, link the backbone of the glomerular slit diaphragm, such as nephrin, to the actin cytoskeleton. Studying the localization and function of these and other podocytic proteins is essential for the understanding of the glomerular filter&#39;s role in health and disease. The presented protocol enables the user to visualize actin, podocin, and nephrin in cells with super resolution imaging on a conventional microscope. First, cells are stained with a conventional immunofluorescence technique. All proteins within the sample are then covalently anchored to a swellable hydrogel. Through digestion with proteinase K, structural proteins are cleaved allowing isotropical swelling of the gel in the last step. Dialysis of the sample in water results in a 4-4.5-fold expansion of the sample and the sample can be imaged via a conventional fluorescence microscope, rendering a potential resolution of 70 nm.

The concept and timing of this proExM protocol is depicted in Figure 1. On day 5, transfected cells are fixed and stained with fluorescent antibodies targeting the protein of interest (Figure 1A,B). On day 6, treatment with AcX leads to formation of amine groups on all proteins (including fluorophores) (Figure 1A,B)12. Upon polymerization of t...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging of Podocytic Proteins Nephrin, Actin, and Podocin with Expansion Microscopy at JoVE.com

Imaging of Podocytic Proteins Nephrin, Actin, and Podocin with Expansion Microscopy

The presented method enables visualization of fluorescently labeled cellular proteins with expansion microscopy leading to a resolution of 70 nm on a conventional microscope.

Disruption of the glomerular filter composed of the glomerular endothelium, glomerular basement membrane and podocytes, results in albuminuria. Podocyte ...

This expansion microscopic protocol enables the investigator to visualize glomerular proteins with nanoscale resolution on a conventional microscope. The main advantage of expansion microscopy is that it is accessible to a large research community. Begin by making spacers for the gelation chamber.Cut number one and number 1.5 glass cover slips into five millimeter stripes, using a diamond knife. Place a glass slide into a staining chamber and position the number 1.5 cover slip stripes on the glass slide, so that they form a 2.5 centimeter square. Pipette a droplet of double distilled water into the corners of the square to adhere the glass cover slip stripes to each other and to the glass slide.Wait for approximately 20 minutes so that the number 1.5 cover slips are stably attached. Pipette a droplet of water on each number 1.5 cover slip stripe. Place four number one glass cover slip stripes onto the number 1.5 cover slips.For the gelation chamber lid, wrap a cover glass with paraffin film, avoiding any folds or dirt on the film. For anchoring treatment, remove PBS from the immune stained cells and add 250 microliters of anchoring buffer per well directly onto the glass cover slip. Incubate the plate for three hours at room temperature.Keep the substrate in the dark using a box. After the incubation, remove the anchoring buffer and wash the cover slip once with 1.5 milliliters of PBS per well. To stain actin fibers, thaw an EXM compatible phalloidin solution and incubate it for 45 minutes at room temperature.Meanwhile, dissolve sodium acrylate in double distilled water using a stirring device and prepare the monomer solution on ice. Remove phalloidin from the cells and wash them with 1.5 milliliters of PBS, twice, at room temperature. Leave 1.5 milliliters of PBS within the well after the last wash.Use forceps and a cannula to lift the cover glass slip from the six well plate and place it into the gelation chamber. Add APS to the gelling solution and vortex briefly. Pipette 200 microliters of gelling solution on the sample and cautiously close the chamber, avoiding air bubbles within the gel.Add water to the staining chamber, and incubate the staining chamber for at least one hour at 37 degrees Celsius to polymerize the gel. Take the staining chamber out of the incubator. To open the gelation chamber lid, introduce a razor blade between the lid and the spacer, and remove the lid cautiously.Remove the spacers with the razor blade and cut off all extra gel. Use a paint brush to detach the edges of the gel. Put the slide with the gel and cover glass into a dish filled with PBS.Then remove the detached cover glass from the gel by shaking it gently. Put the slide below the gel to attach the gel to the slide. With the gel on the slide, divide the gel into small pieces using the razor blade.Gently push one piece of gel into a well of a six well plate with a glass bottom and unfold it with a paintbrush. Use the paintbrush to keep the gel moisturized with a small amount of PBS. Using an inverted microscope, take overview images with low numerical aperture for pre-expansion images.Dilute Proteinase K to four units per milliliter in digestion buffer to make the digestion solution. Add 500 microliters of the digestion solution to each well, and immerse the gel within the solution. Let it digest overnight at room temperature with the lid closed to keep the samples in the dark.Remove the digestion solution with a pipette and discard it. Add one milliliter of double distilled water and incubate the immersed gel for 10 minutes at room temperature. Remove the water and add one milliliter of fresh, double distilled water.Continue exchanging water every 10 minutes until a plateau of expansion is reached, causing the gel to become optically clear. Remove the water from the gel and immediately start microscopy. Using an inverted microscope, use an air objective at low magnification to find cells in the pre-expansion state.Switch to 40 X and 63 X objectives for better resolution. Excite with the wavelength of interest and take the image via the camera. This EXM protocol enables expansion of up to four fold.To determine the expansion factor it is essential to image cells before and after expansion. Insufficient anchoring and homogenization may lead to distortions and ruptures of cells. Representative examples of ruptured cells are shown here.This method can be used to investigate the colocalization of F-actin and actin adapter proteins, such as podocin and nephrin. Podocin is depicted in green, actin in blue, and nephrin in red. White areas indicate colocalization.The fluorescent signal intensity and abundance are key for successful EXM. Efficient anchoring of the fluorescent dyes via ACX is of critical importance for this protocol. In our hands solubilized ACX is good for up to three to four months.

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Fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) is a hydroxyl radical protein footprinting method used to characterize protein structure and interactions. ...

Transverse Sectioning of Mature Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Kernels for Scanning Electron Microscopy Imaging Using Pipette Tips as Immobilization Support

Transverse Sectioning of Mature Rice Oryza sativa L. Kernels for Scanning Electron Microscopy Imaging Using Pipette Tips as Immobilization Support

Starch granules (SGs) exhibit different morphologies depending on the plant species, especially in the endosperm of the Poaceae family. Endosperm ...

Analyzing the Interaction of Fluorescent-Labeled Proteins with Artificial Phospholipid Microvesicles using Quantitative Flow Cytometry

In the human body, most of the major physiologic reactions involved in the immune response and blood coagulation proceed on the membranes of cells. An ...