Ma-PbFRET: multiple acceptors FRET measurement based on partial acceptor photobleaching

Microsc Microanal. 2013 Feb;19(1):171-9. doi: 10.1017/S1431927612014079. Epub 2013 Jan 25.

Abstract

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurement based on partial acceptor photobleaching (PbFRET) is easy to implement without external references. However, the current PbFRET methods are inapplicable to the construct with multiple acceptors, which largely increase the Förster distance. Here, we proposed a linear theory for the dependence of the acceptor photobleaching probability of construct with multiple acceptors on the photobleaching degree (x) and developed a multiple acceptors PbFRET method (Ma-PbFRET) to measure the FRET efficiency of construct with multiple acceptors (n) by measuring the fluorescence intensities of both donor and acceptor channels before and after acceptor photobleaching. The Ma-PbFRET method was validated by measuring the FRET efficiency of construct with two or three acceptors under different x in living cells. Our experimental results demonstrate that the Ma-PbFRET method is capable of exactly quantifying the FRET efficiency of construct with multiple acceptors, providing a simple and powerful tool to investigate the assembly/disassembly of biomolecular complexes with larger distance in living cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytological Techniques / methods*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Photobleaching*