Measurement of molecular transport in cells by Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) (CAT#: STEM-MB-1110-WXH)

Name: Measurement of molecular transport in cells by Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS)
SKU: STEM-MB-1110-WXH
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Introduction

The interior of a cell is composed of many compartments that differ in their structural properties and molecular activities. Transport of molecules within and between these regions, either by molecular motors or by diffusion, is essential for functions within a region and to coordinate functions among regions. Learning whether specific molecules within a cell diffuse or are actively transported, the rates and mechanisms of transport, and where in the cell different forms of transport occur is essential for understanding interactions among and mechanisms within cellular domains.

Buy Now

Principle Applications Procedure Materials

Principle

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is a statistical analysis, via time correlation, of stationary fluctuations of the fluorescence intensity. Its theoretical underpinning originated from L. Onsager's regression hypothesis. The analysis provides kinetic parameters of the physical processes underlying the fluctuations. One of the interesting applications of this is an analysis of the concentration fluctuations of fluorescent particles (molecules) in solution. In this application, the fluorescence emitted from a very tiny space in solution containing a small number of fluorescent particles (molecules) is observed. The fluorescence intensity is fluctuating due to Brownian motion of the particles. In other words, the number of the particles in the sub-space defined by the optical system is randomly changing around the average number. The analysis gives the average number of fluorescent particles and average diffusion time, when the particle is passing through the space. Eventually, both the concentration and size of the particle (molecule) are determined. Both parameters are important in biochemical research, biophysics, and chemistry.

Applications

• Measurement of the diffusion coefficient of biomolecules
• Detection of translational diffusions
• Measurement of the biomolecular concentration in vitro or in vivo
• Quantification of the viscosity of a solution
• Monitoring the binding or unbinding of two kinds of biomolecules
• Probing the diffusion paths of different directions and mapping the intercellular obstacles