Summary
Techniques such as STORM and STED beat the diffraction limit to image structures down to tens of nanometres.
In depth
STED, PALM/STORM and SIM give resolution of 20 to 100 nm. Eric Betzig, Stefan Hell and William Moerner won the 2014 Nobel Prize. Applications include synaptic nanostructure and chromatin organisation.
Methods use patterned light or stochastic blinking of dyes. Labels must be dense and bright. Live imaging is limited.
Example: STORM maps synaptic proteins at nanoscale.
Super-resolution methods break the diffraction limit of about 200 nm, which was thought to be fundamental. Stefan Hell (STED), Eric Betzig and William Moerner (single-molecule localisation) shared the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
STED uses a doughnut-shaped depletion beam to shrink the fluorescent spot; PALM and STORM switch fluorophores on a few at a time and pinpoint each one's centre with nanometre accuracy over thousands of frames; structured illumination microscopy doubles resolution with patterned light. Resolutions of 20 to 50 nm or better are reached.
Example: showing the periodic ring structure of actin along axons.
Frequently asked questions
What is Super-Resolution Microscopy?
Techniques such as STORM and STED beat the diffraction limit to image structures down to tens of nanometres.
Which area of biology covers Super-Resolution Microscopy, and how advanced is it?
Super-Resolution Microscopy is one of the 51 topics in Lab Methods & Biostatistics. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Confocal Microscopy, Fluorescent Proteins, Immunofluorescence.
Why does Super-Resolution Microscopy matter?
It reveals protein arrangements in cells in the range between light and electron microscopy.
Can you give an example of Super-Resolution Microscopy?
It revealed periodic actin rings in axons.
What should I learn before Super-Resolution Microscopy?
Work through the Beginner topics in Lab Methods & Biostatistics first, such as Scientific Method, Hypothesis, Variables, then return to Super-Resolution Microscopy. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
What topics are related to Super-Resolution Microscopy?
The closest topics to Super-Resolution Microscopy are Confocal Microscopy, Fluorescent Proteins, Immunofluorescence, Electron Microscopy. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Super-Resolution Microscopy?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Super-Resolution Microscopy. To practise the whole of Lab Methods & Biostatistics, use the Lab Methods & Biostatistics quiz.
How is Super-Resolution Microscopy different from Confocal Microscopy?
Super-Resolution Microscopy: Techniques such as STORM and STED beat the diffraction limit to image structures down to tens of nanometres. Confocal Microscopy: Uses pinholes to remove out-of-focus light, giving sharp optical sections of thick specimens. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Super-Resolution Microscopy step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Confocal Microscopy and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Lab Methods & Biostatistics quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.