Diverse Applications of Volume CLEM Analysis in Cell Biology-Brief Overview, Unique Techniques, and Recent Notable Works

The technology of volume electron microscopy (vEM), which enables three-dimensional (3D) observation of organelles, cells and even tissues at the nanoscale, is advancing and being applied to various fields of life science. As the demand for vEM grows, there is an increasing need for Volume Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (Volume CLEM) to capture targets without missing the region of interest (ROI) or to observe the localization of molecules (often proteins) at the exact location of the fluorescent signals. This mini review provides an overview of the current state of Volume CLEM and introduces several unique approaches. My aim is to share the diverse fundamental technologies and broad application scope of this technique. Volume electron microscopy (vEM) provides nanoscale imaging for life science applications. Correlation with Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM), is very powerful for linking molecular localization to ultrastructure. This mini review outlines advances, distinctive approaches, and its broad technological and application scope.