Pulsed-interleaved excitation FRET measurements on single duplex DNA molecules inside C-shaped nanoapertures

Nano Lett. 2007 Jun;7(6):1749-56. doi: 10.1021/nl070822v. Epub 2007 May 16.

Abstract

Single-molecule fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET) is a widely accepted method for determining the spatial separation between molecules. In combination with pulsed interleaved excitation (PIE), additional information about the stoichiometry of molecular interactions is obtained. PIE-FRET, however, as implemented with standard confocal optics, requires the dilution of the sample to biologically low concentrations. Here, we show that PIE-FRET measurements inside nanometer-sized apertures yield meaningful biochemical data at 1000 x higher concentrations.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / ultrastructure*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microchemistry / methods*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • DNA