Super-Resolution Microscope

Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) describes any optical technique used to resolve structures beyond the diffraction-limited resolution of conventional optical microscopy. Fine localization of cellular structures such as synapses, Golgi apparatus, and nuclear membranes reveals more biological information when components are viewed at resolutions beyond the diffraction limit, and features can be elucidated at the suborganelle level. There are three main types of super-resolution microscopy, each one working via a different mechanism. These include stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, structured illumination microscopy (SIM), and stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)/photoactivation localization microscopy (PALM).