The cover photomicrograph of an epithelial cell, courtesy of NCMIR's Ben Giepmans, appeared on the 14-April-2006 issue of Science. This cover image alerted readers to a review describing the application of fluorescent probes to study protein activity, expression, and function.

Cells in the limelight. Parallel application of new (genetic tagging) and old targeting methods and fluorophores. Live cells were transfected with genetically encoded fluorescent protein fused to tubulin in order to illuminate the cells’ microtubule networks (green) while tetracysteine-actin and ReAsH report on the location of stress fibers (red).  Cells were subsequently preserved and immunolabeled for the Golgi-matrix protein giantin using quantum dots (yellow). DNA was subsequently stained with Hoechst (blue). [Image: NCMIR/ Ben Giepmans]