Direct microsecond wide-field single-molecule tracking and super-resolution mapping via CCD vertical shift

TL;DR

SpeedyTrack enables ultra-fast tracking of single molecules and super-resolution mapping using existing equipment without modifications.

Contribution

SpeedyTrack introduces a novel method for microsecond single-molecule tracking and super-resolution mapping using EM-CCD vertical shifting.

Findings

SpeedyTrack achieves 50 µs temporal resolution for molecules diffusing up to 1000 µm²/s.

VS-SpeedyTrack maps trajectories at super-resolution with nanoscale resolution in live cells.

The method uses EM-CCD vertical shifting without altering optics or electronics.

Abstract

Wide-field single-molecule tracking is often limited by the ~10 ms camera frame time. We introduce SpeedyTrack, which directly enables microsecond wide-field single-molecule tracking/imaging on common setups. Harnessing the native sub-microsecond vertical charge shifting capability of EM-CCDs, SpeedyTrack staggers wide-field single-molecule images along the CCD chip at ~10-row spacings between consecutive timepoints, effectively projecting the time domain to the spatial domain. Wide-field tracking is achieved for molecules diffusing at up to 1000 µm2/s at 50 µs temporal resolutions for >30 timepoints. Concurrent Förster resonance energy transfer measurements further elucidate molecular states. By implementing temporally patterned vertical shifting, VS-SpeedyTrack next deconvolves the spatial and temporal information to map trajectories at the super-resolution level, resolving the diffusion mode of a fluorescent protein in live cells with nanoscale resolution. Without modifications to existing optics or electronics, SpeedyTrack provides a facile solution to the microsecond tracking of single molecules and their super-resolution mapping in the wide field.

Working off the native fast vertical shifting capability of EM-CCDs, SpeedyTrack achieves microsecond time-resolution single-molecule tracking and super-resolution mapping in the wide field without the need to modify existing optics or electronics.

Figures