Case studies - FocalPlane

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Living Architectures

Posted by FocalPlane, on 30 June 2026

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Musée d’Orsay, the CytoMorpho laboratory was invited to create a performance based on a series of experiments conducted for the occasion. The images produced for this show were real. There were no digital simulations or generative artificial intelligence. They were series of true photographs taken with microscopes.

Imaging spotlight: Cryo-ExM reveals the architecture of the human cytotoxic immunological synapse

Posted by FocalPlane, on 15 June 2026

In this behind the paper story, Benita Wolf and colleagues share their research using cryo-expansion microscopy (cryo-ExM) to map the architecture of the human cytotoxic immunological synapse.

Imaging spotlight: PLIN5 phosphorylation tunes mitochondria–lipid droplet coupling in the liver

Posted by FocalPlane, on 29 April 2026

In this paper highlight, we hear from Natalie Porat-Shliom, who discusses her recent paper on how PLIN5 phosphorylation regulates mitochondria–lipid droplet contacts in the liver.

Imaging spotlight: Calibrating expansion microscopy to map receptor sorting domains in endosomes

Posted by FocalPlane, on 15 April 2026

In this behind the paper story, Tayla Shakespeare and Izzy Jayasinghe share their research mapping receptor sorting domains in endosomes using expansion microscopy (ExM). As part of this research, they developed a calibrated 3D ExM toolkit to measure local expansion.

Imaging spotlight: dissecting the precancerous niche

Posted by FocalPlane, on 25 March 2026

In this paper highlight we hear from Greta Skrupskelyte and Maria Alcolea, who discuss their recent paper dissecting the role of the microenvironment and tumour-stromal communication in tumour growth and survival.

Spider-like neurons finding their way: signposts for multipolar migration in the developing brain

Posted by Jaakko Lehtimäki, on 11 March 2026

Developing neurons travel large distances and orchestrate into precise layers to enable functional wiring of the brain. Within this unique tissue environment, many neurons use their neighbors like railway tracks, navigating in a directed manner toward their correct layer. However, this is not always the case. Multipolar migration, where cells extend multiple protrusions and display

Imaging spotlight: the axonal membrane-associated periodic skeleton

Posted by FocalPlane, on 5 March 2026

In this paper highlight, Nick Boyer takes us through the key results and imaging techniques that they used in their research dissecting the axonal membrane-associated periodic skeleton with Rohan Sharma, Christophe Leterrier, Subhojit Roy and colleagues.

Imaging spotlight - How to divide without a ring: a mechanical ratchet drives unilateral cytokinesis

Posted by FocalPlane, on 10 February 2026

In this paper highlight, Jan Brugués and Alison Kickuth discuss the microscopy and microrheology techniques that they used in their research dissecting the mechanics of cytokinesis.

Seeing Chromatin Scaling with Cell Size, from Interphase to Mitosis

Posted by Manuel Mendoza, on 26 January 2026

Melike Lakadamyali, Jérôme Solon and Manuel MendozaAs cells divide during development, their size evolves dramatically while DNA content remains constant. This raises a fundamental question: does chromosome compaction adjust to these size changes so that genomes are still segregated faithfully? This question has been with us for a long time. More than a decade ago,

Imaging spotlight: visualising synaptic vesicle fusion by cryo-ET

Posted by FocalPlane, on 21 January 2026

In this paper highlight from Jana Kroll and colleagues, we hear about their research combing optogenetic stimulation with plunge freezing and cryo-electron tomography to study synaptic vesicle fusion.

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Microscopy-related articles from our journals

Toggle-Untoggle – a cell segmentation tool with an interactive user verification interface J Cell Sci 2025 138: jcs264154
The ratio of Wnt signaling activity to Sox2 transcription factor levels predicts neuromesodermal fate potential Development 2025 152: dev204661
The short isoform of Tango1 is dispensable for zebrafish survival but is required for skeletal patterning and integrity Biology Open 2025 14: bio062117

Microscopy-related preprint highlights

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