Background

Optical super-resolution imaging provides information about molecular distributions with nanometer resolution, which has greatly advanced our understanding of cell biology. However, current co-localisation analysis of super-resolution fluorescence imaging is prone to false-positive signals as the detection of protein proximity is directly dependent on the local optical resolution.

Technology Overview

The University of Exeter has invented and validated proximity-dependent PAINT (PD-PAINT), a method for subdiffraction imaging of protein pairs, in which proximity detection is decoupled from optical resolution.

PD-PAINT can be straightforwardly integrated into a multiplexed super-resolution imaging protocol.

Further Details

Peer reviewed publication ‑ Clowsley et al., JACS ‑ published July 2020.

Benefits

PD-PAINT combines proximity detection with all the advantages of DNA-PAINT:

high specificity
high resolution
straightforward implementation on a conventional fluorescence microscope
fully compatible with multi‑colour microscopy imaging
microscopy dye‑ and wavelength‑agnostic
enables quantitative analysis through accurate determination of the local density of protein pairs
enables imaging of the protein complex as well as the individual protein epitopes in separate channels.

In contrast to other imaging modalities, PD-PAINT does not require specific dye pairs, eliminates the need for a more complex excitation and detection setup, and does not suffer from the effects of specific molecular orientations which can complicate image and data interpretation.

Applications

Cell biology
Super resolution microscopy
Imaging platforms

Opportunity

The University of Exeter is seeking a commercial partner to either further co-develop our technology or licence the patent, in order to translate the positive research findings into commercial application in the life sciences market.

Optimisation of Super-Resolution Microscopy

Patents

IP Status

Seeking