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Single-molecule monitoring in living cells by use of fluorescence microscopy

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Abstract

Monitoring single molecules in living cells is becoming a powerful tool for study of the location, dynamics, and kinetics of individual biomolecules in real time. In recent decades, several optical imaging techniques, for example epi-fluorescence microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), confocal microscopy, quasi-TIRFM, and single-point edge excitation subdiffraction microscopy (SPEED), have been developed, and their capability of capturing single-molecule dynamics in living cells has been demonstrated. In this review, we briefly summarize recent advances in the use of these imaging techniques for monitoring single-molecules in living cells for a better understanding of important biological processes, and discuss future developments.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB933701, 2011CB911001), NSFC (21127901, 21121063), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructures and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2 Zhongguancun North First Street, 100190, Beijing, China

    Wangxi Luo, Kangmin He, Tie Xia & Xiaohong Fang

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  1. Wangxi Luo
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  2. Kangmin He
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  3. Tie Xia
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  4. Xiaohong Fang
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Correspondence to Xiaohong Fang.

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Luo, W., He, K., Xia, T. et al. Single-molecule monitoring in living cells by use of fluorescence microscopy. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 43–49 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6373-0

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