Single-molecule quantum-dot fluorescence resonance energy transfer

Chemphyschem. 2005 May;6(5):956-60. doi: 10.1002/cphc.200400557.

Abstract

Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots are promising for single-molecule biological imaging due to their outstanding brightness and photostability. As a proof of concept for single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) applications, we measured FRET between a single quantum dot and a single organic fluorophore Cy5. DNA Holliday junction dynamics measured with the quantum dot/Cy5 pair are identical to those obtained with the conventional Cy3/Cy5 pair, that is, conformational changes of individual molecules can be observed by using the quantum dot as the donor.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / instrumentation*
  • Biophysics / methods
  • Biotin / chemistry
  • Carbocyanines / chemistry*
  • Carbocyanines / pharmacology
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA, Cruciform / chemistry
  • Energy Transfer
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / instrumentation*
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / methods*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology*
  • Microscopy, Video
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Rhodamines
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Streptavidin / chemistry
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Carbocyanines
  • DNA, Cruciform
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Rhodamines
  • cyanine dye 5
  • Biotin
  • DNA
  • Streptavidin