InstrumentConfocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) (Zeiss LSM980 with Airyscan)

A confocal microscope is an optical light microscope which uses lasers of varying wavelengths to excite fluorescent dyes which have been specifically added to samples, or samples which are inherently fluorescent. The confocal microscope is useful for determining the presence and location of specific structures, cellular organelles, and proteins on or within samples. Antibodies to proteins of interest can be labeled with fluorescent compounds and then used to identify the location and amount of these proteins present within samples. In addition, the confocal microscope eliminates any out of focus illumination, and therefore can be used to "optically section" a sample – capturing images at multiple planes of focus. The optical sections can then be used to produce a 3-D image of the sample, which can be useful for precisely determining the location of the material of interest or for confirming co-localization of two different proteins or organelles.

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