Membrane Architecture in the Spotlight of Correlative Microscopy

Cellular membranes differ in their molecular organisation, shape, and dynamics. Knowing how these properties of membrane architecture relate to the presence and function of specific membrane components is fundamental for understanding membrane-associated cellular processes. Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) is ideally poised to address such problems. Fluorescence microscopy allows identification of cellular membranes through labelled components and can provide temporal information, while electron microscopy allows visualisation of the structure of the same membranes at high resolution. In recent years, various CLEM protocols have been applied to gain insights into cellular membrane architecture. Here, we review conceptually novel approaches by which CLEM has provided insights on membrane reshaping, subcellular localisation of components, host-pathogen interactions, and has answered longstanding mechanistic questions.