Highly inclined thin illumination enables clear single-molecule imaging in cells

M Tokunaga, N Imamoto, K Sakata-Sogawa - Nature methods, 2008 - nature.com
M Tokunaga, N Imamoto, K Sakata-Sogawa
Nature methods, 2008nature.com
We describe a simple illumination method of fluorescence microscopy for molecular
imaging. Illumination by a highly inclined and thin beam increases image intensity and
decreases background intensity, yielding a signal/background ratio about eightfold greater
than that of epi-illumination. A high ratio yielded clear single-molecule images and three-
dimensional images using cultured mammalian cells, enabling one to visualize and quantify
molecular dynamics, interactions and kinetics in cells for molecular systems biology.
Abstract
We describe a simple illumination method of fluorescence microscopy for molecular imaging. Illumination by a highly inclined and thin beam increases image intensity and decreases background intensity, yielding a signal/background ratio about eightfold greater than that of epi-illumination. A high ratio yielded clear single-molecule images and three-dimensional images using cultured mammalian cells, enabling one to visualize and quantify molecular dynamics, interactions and kinetics in cells for molecular systems biology.
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