Dual-objective STORM reveals three-dimensional filament organization in the actin cytoskeleton

The use of dual-objective detection with astigmatism-based three-dimensional stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) imaging improves resolution more than twofold and removes noise in resulting super-resolution images. This allowed detailed fluorescence imaging of distinctive features of the three-dimensional actin cytoskeleton ultrastructure with single-filament resolution in cells. By combining astigmatism imaging with a dual-objective scheme, we improved the image resolution of stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and obtained <10-nm lateral resolution and <20-nm axial resolution when imaging biological specimens. Using this approach, we resolved individual actin filaments in cells and revealed three-dimensional ultrastructure of the actin cytoskeleton. We observed two vertically separated layers of actin networks with distinct structural organizations in sheet-like cell protrusions.