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Updated: May 16, 2026
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Application of High-speed Super-resolution SPEED Microscopy in Live Primary Cilium
Published on: January 16, 2018
Visualization of live primary cilia dynamics using fluorescence microscopy.
Carolyn Ott1, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz1
1Cell Biology and Metabolism Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland.
Current Protocols in Cell Biology
|December 5, 2012
Summary
This study details methods for visualizing and analyzing primary cilia in living cells. These techniques assess cilia formation, protein localization, and intraflagellar transport, crucial for cellular signaling.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Primary cilia are critical cellular antennae involved in signal transduction.
- Dysfunctional cilia are linked to various human diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe methods for visualizing and quantifying primary cilia formation and function.
- To enable assessment of ciliary protein localization and intraflagellar transport dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Protocols for visualizing solitary cilia in living cells.
- Techniques for assessing cilia formation, length, and protein localization.
- Methods including kymographs, photobleaching, and photoconversion to quantify intraflagellar transport.
Main Results:
- Established methods allow detailed analysis of primary cilia structure and dynamics.
- Quantification of intraflagellar transport provides insights into ciliary signaling mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- The described methods are valuable tools for studying primary cilia formation and function.
- Understanding ciliary dynamics is key to deciphering ciliary-mediated signal perception and transmission.
