AMPA receptor imaging by infrared scanning near-field optical microscopy

• Published in: Physica status solidi. C Vol. 5; no. 8; pp. 2641 - 2644
• Main Authors: Generosi, J., Kropf, M., Margaritondo, G., Hirling, H., Catsicas, S., Johnsson, K., Tolk, N. H., Piston, D. W., Cricenti, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.06.2008; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: 87.64.Je; 87.64.K; 87.64.mt
• ISSN: 1862-6351; 1610-1634; 1610-1642
• DOI: 10.1002/pssc.200779116

Infrared scanning near‐field optical microscopy is used to detect AMPA‐type glutamate receptor clusters in hippocampal neuron cells. AMPA's GluR2‐subunits were marked with the fluorophore Alexa488 and high‐resolution micrographs were taken at 6.25 µm wavelength, corresponding to the maker's strong infrared absorption. The use of infrared light avoids photobleaching and makes this approach suitable for long‐term observations; this technique can be used in general to localize different IR‐absorbing molecules over the complex background of other cell components. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)