Live-cell imaging

Two protocols for visualizing live cells are accessible in the January issue (Volume 2, Issue 1) of the online database Cold Spring Harbor Protocols, produced by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press in association with HighWire Press. “Microinjection of Protein Samples” details a method of injecting proteins into individual cells, where the proteins are fluorescently labeled for tracking under a microscope. The technique can be applied to more complex assays, such as laser photobleaching and fluorescent speckle microscopy, to yield specific data on cellular processes. “A Sealed Preparation for Long-Term Observations of Cultured Cells” outlines an enclosed chamber that optimizes the cultural environment for cells, enabling them to be monitored under a microscope for four days or longer.