Scientists have developed Rhobo6, a light microscopy probe that reveals extracellular matrix structures in live tissues, advancing biological research and disease diagnostics. Rhobo6 is a light microscopy probe that selectively binds to extracellular matrix glycans, increasing its fluorescence an
Scientists have developed Rhobo6, a light microscopy probe that reveals extracellular matrix structures in live tissues, advancing biological research and disease diagnostics. Rhobo6 is a light microscopy probe that selectively binds to extracellular matrix glycans, increasing its fluorescence and allowing clear visualization of these structures in live tissues. This innovative tool enables researchers to study the extracellular matrix in detail without disrupting native biological processes, offering new insights into tissue biology and disease. Before arriving at Janelia three years ago, Postdoctoral Scientist Antonio Fiore was designing and building optical instruments like microscopes and spectrometers. Fiore, a physicist by training, came to the Pedram Lab to try something new. "I focused on the physics rather than investing in the biological applications of the optics I was developing," Fiore says. "I came to the Pedram Lab in search of a different kind of impact, joining a team that explores areas of biology that need new tools, while keeping a connection to light microscopy." So far, Fiore's new direction is paying off. Fiore and Janelia Group Leader Kayvon Pedram, along with a team of researchers, have developed Rhobo6, a light microscopy probe that gives scientists an unprecedented look at the extracellular matrix—the collection of organized molecular structures that fills the spaces between cells in our bodies. The extracellular matrix supports and gives structure to our cells and tissues: It provides a scaffold for cells to grow in, dictates the mechanical properties of tissues, and supplies pathways for cells to travel. "If our bodies are a community of…