Adaptive optics for optical microscopy [Invited]

Optical microscopy is widely used to visualize fine structures. When applied to bioimaging, its performance is often degraded by sample-induced aberrations. In recent years, adaptive optics (AO), originally developed to correct for atmosphere-associated aberrations, has been applied to a wide range of microscopy modalities, enabling high- or super-resolution imaging of biological structure and function in complex tissues. Here, we review classic and recently developed AO techniques and their applications in optical microscopy

Super-resolution microscopy reveals majorly mono- and dimeric presenilin1/gamma-secretase at the cell surface

γ-Secretase is a multi-subunit enzyme whose aberrant activity is associated with Alzheimer's disease and cancer. While its structure is atomically resolved, γ-secretase localization in the membrane in situ relies mostly on biochemical data. Here, we combined fluorescent tagging of γ-secretase subunits with super-resolution microscopy in fibroblasts. Structured illumination microscopy revealed single γ-secretase complexes with a monodisperse distribution and in a 1:1 stoichiometry of PSEN1 and nicastrin subunits. In living cells, sptPALM revealed PSEN1/γ-secretase mainly with directed motility and frequenting 'hotspots' or high track-density areas that are sensitive to γ-secretase inhibitors. We visualized γ-secretase association with substrates like amyloid precursor protein and N-cadherin, but not with its sheddases ADAM10 or BACE1 at the cell surface, arguing against pre-formed megadalton complexes. Nonetheless, in living cells PSEN1/γ-secretase transiently visits ADAM10 hotspots. Our results highlight the power of super-resolution microscopy for the study of γ-secretase distribution and dynamics in the membrane.status: publishe