Spatiotemporal Analysis of Caveolae Dynamics Using Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy.

ABSTRACT

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy enables to analyze the localizations and dynamics of cellular events that occur at or near the plasma membrane. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy exclusively illuminates molecules in the close vicinity of the glass surface, thereby reducing background fluorescence and enabling observation of the plasma membrane in the glass-attached cells with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we describe the application of total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to analyze the dynamics of caveolae, which play essential physiological functions, including membrane tension buffering, endocytosis, and signaling at the plasma membrane.