Correlative light and electron microscopic detection of GFP-labeled proteins using modular APEX

Methods Cell Biol. 2017:140:105-121. doi: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2017.03.002. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Abstract

The use of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and related proteins has revolutionized light microscopy. Here we describe a rapid and simple method to localize GFP-tagged proteins in cells and in tissues by electron microscopy (EM) using a modular approach involving a small GFP-binding peptide (GBP) fused to the ascorbate peroxidase-derived APEX2 tag. We provide a method for visualizing GFP-tagged proteins by light and EM in cultured cells and in the zebrafish using modular APEX-GBP. Furthermore, we describe in detail the benefits of this technique over many of the currently available correlative light and electron microscopy approaches and demonstrate APEX-GBP is readily applicable to modern three-dimensional techniques.

Keywords: APEX; CLEM; Electron microscopy; GFP-binding peptide; Green fluorescent protein; Light microscopy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Ascorbate Peroxidases / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Electron / methods*
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Ascorbate Peroxidases