Label-Retention Expansion Microscopy Visualizes Organelles and Interactome with Molecular Resolution

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

2:30 PM-4:00 PM

BIOMED Seminar

Title:
Label-Retention Expansion Microscopy (LR-ExM) Visualizes Organelles and Interactome with Molecular Resolution

Speaker:
Xiaoyu Shi, PhD
Assistant Professor
Departments of Developmental and Cell Biology, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering
University of California, Irvine

Details:
Super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized cell biology by unveiling intricate spatial relationships in organelles and protein complexes. In this talk, we'll delve into two new methods from the Xiaoyu Shi lab that enhance detection resolution in imaging organelle-organelle and protein-protein interactions. One technique is the Label-Retention Expansion Microscopy (LR-ExM), which captures molecular-resolution images of structures like the nuclear envelope, microtubules, clathrin-coated pits, mitochondria, nucleolus, and ER.

The other method is the Proximity-Labeling Expansion Microscopy (PL-ExM), revealing the 3D structure of protein interactome within cells and tissues at resolutions up to 12 nm. Remarkably, these chemical techniques enable super-resolution using conventional microscopes, sunch as confocal and Airyscan. The Shi lab pledges to provide the science community with LR-ExM probes and protocols at no cost from now to 2025.

Biosketch:
Xiaoyu Shi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor across three departments – Developmental and Cell Biology, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering – at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Shi's academic journey began with a PhD in Physical Chemistry, specializing in nonlinear optics, from the University of California-Davis under the mentorship of Professor Cheuk Ng. Her postdoctoral endeavors took her to the University of California-San Francisco, where she worked with Professor Bo Huang to delve into the intricacies of super-resolution microscopy.

In 2019, Dr. Shi established her own laboratory at UC Irvine. Her research group is at the forefront of integrating optical and chemical methodologies to advance super-resolution microscopy and spatial multiomics. These cutting-edge technologies are pivotal in her lab's exploration of cell aging, neurodegeneration, and cancer mechanisms.

Dr. Shi's innovations have been well recognized by the science community. She has been honored with prestigious awards for early career faculty. Among these accolades are the NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2), the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), the NSF CAREER award, two Chan Zuckerberg awards, and the Hellman Fellowship.

Contact Information

Lisa Williams
ltw22@drexel.edu