SpRET: highly sensitive and reliable spectral measurement of absolute FRET efficiency.
Microsc Microanal
; 17(2): 176-90, 2011 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21333032
ABSTRACT
Contemporary research aims to understand biological processes not only by identifying participating proteins, but also by characterizing the dynamics of their interactions. Because Förster's Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is invaluable for the latter undertaking, its usage is steadily increasing. However, FRET measurements are notoriously error-prone, especially when its inherent efficiency is low, a not uncommon situation. Furthermore, many FRET methods are either difficult to implement, are not appropriate for observation of cellular dynamics, or report instrument-specific indices that hamper communication of results within the scientific community. We present here a novel comprehensive spectral methodology, SpRET, which substantially increases both the reliability and sensitivity of FRET microscopy, even under unfavorable conditions such as weak fluorescence or the presence of noise. While SpRET overcomes common pitfalls such as interchannel crosstalk and direct excitation of the acceptor, it also excels in removal of autofluorescence or background contaminations and in correcting chromatic aberrations, often overlooked factors that severely undermine FRET experiments. Finally, SpRET quantitatively reports absolute rather than relative FRET efficiency values, as well as the acceptor-to-donor molar ratio, which is critical for full and proper interpretation of FRET experiments. Thus, SpRET serves as an advanced, improved, and powerful tool in the cell biologist's toolbox.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Transferência Ressonante de Energia de Fluorescência
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Microsc Microanal
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Israel