Abstract
The plasma membrane is a two-dimensional compartment that relays most biological signals sent or received by a cell. Signalling involves membrane receptors and their associated enzyme cascades as well as organelles such as exocytic and endocytic vesicles. Advances in light microscope design, new organelle-specific vital stains and fluorescent proteins have renewed the interest in evanescent field fluorescence microscopy, a method uniquely suited to image the plasma membrane with its associated organelles and macromolecules in living cells. The method shows even the smallest vesicles made by cells, and can image the dynamics of single protein molecules.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 268-275 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology |
Volume | 2 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology