Publication

HAK-actin, a U-ExM-compatible probe to image the actin cytoskeleton

2026

Abstract

Expansion microscopy (ExM) enables super-resolution imaging by physically enlarging biological samples. While ExM has been successfully applied to study the intracellular microtubule cytoskeleton, reliable probes for visualizing actin fibers remain limited. Here, we present HAK-actin, an engineered actin probe compatible with ultrastructure expansion microscopy (U-ExM). We show that HAK-actin delivers robust and uniform actin staining across diverse systems, including human cells, microbial eukaryotes, and mouse retinal tissue. This tool provides a simple, versatile, and reproducible solution for actin cytoskeleton visualization, addressing a critical need in cell biology.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/587e1e68-9d27-4ebf-9f6d-35eedb2c92a5

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2026

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/587e1e68-9d27-4ebf-9f6d-35eedb2c92a5

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton is a complex, dynamic network of interlinking protein filaments present in the cytoplasm of all cells, including those of bacteria and archaea. In eukaryotes, it extends from the cell nucleus to the cell membrane and is composed of similar proteins in the various organisms. It is composed of three main components, microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules, and these are all capable of rapid growth or disassembly dependent on the cell's requirements.

Cell cortex

The cell cortex, also known as the actin cortex, cortical cytoskeleton or actomyosin cortex, is a specialized layer of cytoplasmic proteins on the inner face of the cell membrane. It functions as a modulator of membrane behavior and cell surface properties. In most eukaryotic cells lacking a cell wall, the cortex is an actin-rich network consisting of F-actin filaments, myosin motors, and actin-binding proteins. The actomyosin cortex is attached to the cell membrane via membrane-anchoring proteins called ERM proteins that plays a central role in cell shape control.

Actin

Actin is a family of globular multi-functional proteins that form microfilaments in the cytoskeleton, and the thin filaments in muscle fibrils. It is found in essentially all eukaryotic cells, where it may be present at a concentration of over 100 μM; its mass is roughly 42 kDa, with a diameter of 4 to 7 nm. An actin protein is the monomeric subunit of two types of filaments in cells: microfilaments, one of the three major components of the cytoskeleton, and thin filaments, part of the contractile apparatus in muscle cells.

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HAK-actin, a U-ExM-compatible probe to image the actin cytoskeleton

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