Short-range spectroscopic ruler based on a single-molecule optical switch
Abstract
We demonstrate a novel all-optical switch consisting of two molecules: a primary fluorophore that can be switched between a fluorescent and a dark state by light of different wavelengths, and a secondary chromophore that facilitates switching. The interaction between the two molecules exhibits a distance dependence much steeper than that of Forster resonance energy transfer. This enables the switch to act as a ruler with the capability to probe distances difficult to access by other spectroscopic methods, thus presenting a new tool for the study of biomolecules at the single-molecule level.
Cite
@article{arxiv.q-bio/0502012,
title = {Short-range spectroscopic ruler based on a single-molecule optical switch},
author = {Mark Bates and Timothy R. Blosser and Xiaowei Zhuang},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:q-bio/0502012},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
Article contains 4 pages and 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters. Supplementary material and movie file will be available through the PRL web site at the time of publication