Using Super-Resolution Microscopy to Study Subcellular Structures in Cardiac Mouse Myocytes

This PRIME project focused on the imaging of cardiac mouse myocytes using a super-resolution imaging technique, called dSTORM (direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy). Using this technique, fixed cardiac cells isolated from caveolin-3 knockout and wild type animals were immunostained, imaged, and analyzed in order to discern differences in Ryanodine Receptor between the two. These differences include characteristics such as cluster size, morphology, and distribution. Since the qualitative comparisons yielded very subtle differences, quantitative analysis efforts were postponed until after the program ended. Though the comparison of the knockout and wild-type animals was inconclusive, noticeable diameter increases in Ryanodine Receptor and t-tubule junctional areas in wild-type cells was observed and investigated. Because these were readily and qualitatively discernable, collaboration between UC San Diego and University of Auckland to quantitatively investigate these features is planned for the present.