The beauty of the yeast: Live cell microscopy at the limits of optical resolution

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a very powerful system for cell biolo gical research. Recent advances in electronic light microscopy together wit h the application of green fluorescent protein and other in vivo staining t echniques have allowed novel and exciting insights into structural organiza tion and dynamics of cells as small as yeast. Methods for staining yeast fo r microscopic inspection and for introducing tags for localization studies of proteins in living or fixed cells are summarized. Electronic light micro scopy, video/deconvolution methods, and confocal laser scanning microscopy as novel tools for structural analyses, and their practical applications in yeast, are discussed. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.