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Single-Molecule Microscopy Methods to Study Mitochondrial Processes

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Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy in Biology

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Fluorescence ((SS FLUOR,volume 20))

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Abstract

Mitochondria are essential organelles of eukaryotic cells with key functions in metabolism, apoptosis, and signaling. As a result, impaired mitochondrial function has been associated with numerous diseases. In order to understand mitochondrial processes, it is fundamental to gain knowledge about their structure and microcompartmentalization, including the function, organization, and dynamics of their protein, nucleic acid, and lipid components. A number of recent groundbreaking advances in fluorescence microscopy enable the study of mitochondrial biology with unprecedented detail. Among them, new methods based on single-molecule and super-resolution microscopy allow us to study mitochondrial structures, protein organizations, and dynamics. Here, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different single-molecule microscopy methods to study individual proteins in fixed and living cells in the background of mitochondrial processes, in situ.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Timo Dellmann and Anna Kostina contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CECAD Research Center, Institute of Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Timo Dellmann, Anna Kostina & Ana J. Garcia Saéz

Authors
  1. Timo Dellmann
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  2. Anna Kostina
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  3. Ana J. Garcia Saéz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana J. Garcia Saéz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Prague, Czech Republic

    Radek Šachl

  2. J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Prague, Czech Republic

    Mariana Amaro

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Dellmann, T., Kostina, A., Garcia Saéz, A.J. (2022). Single-Molecule Microscopy Methods to Study Mitochondrial Processes. In: Šachl, R., Amaro, M. (eds) Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy in Biology. Springer Series on Fluorescence, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/4243_2022_23

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