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Förster resonance energy transfer
What is Förster resonance energy transfer?
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) refers to the phenomenon where energy is non-radiatively transferred from an excited-state donor molecule to an acceptor molecule when two proteins are in close proximity. In the field of life sciences, this process is often associated with fluorescent molecules and is sometimes called Fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
The efficiency of FRET depends on factors such as the distance and angle between the molecules, as well as the spectral overlap. The distance at which the energy transfer efficiency is 50 % between the donor and acceptor is known as the Förster distance.
To measure FRET, for example, bind a fluorescent dye to protein A and protein B, one as a donor and the other as an acceptor, and measure the donor's or acceptor's fluorescence. When measuring the donor’s fluorescence, as the donor approaches the acceptor, the fluorescence intensity decreases. Conversely, when measuring the acceptor’s fluorescence, as the donor approaches the acceptor, the acceptor’s fluorescence intensity increases. By observing these changes in fluorescence intensity, you can study protein-protein interactions, including changes in distance and structure between the proteins.
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of intermolecular FRET
Example images
Fast Ca2+ imaging of YC3.60 expressing HeLa cell
Data courtesy of Masahiro Nakano, Ph.D. and Takeharu Nagai, Ph.D. Department of Biomolecular Science and Engineering, The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University
Recommended products
The ultimate camera, evolved
With 5x faster photon number resolving capabilities, the ORCA-Quest 2 remains the apex camera for ultra low-light, quantitative imaging.
Highlights:
- Ideal for ultra low light and replacing EM-CCDS
- Exclusive quantitative CMOS for pioneering imaging
- Ultra-low noise enables single photon resolution
- High sensitivity does not require speed compromise
This ORCA is ideal for:
- TIRF
- Computational/super-resolution microscopy
- Genetically encoded voltage imaging
- Luminescence
- Quantum computing
- UV applications
Small pixels, big benefit
The ORCA-Fire is a unique back-thinned sCMOS that is optimized for fast, low-mag, large field of view, low-light quantitative imaging.
Highlights:
- Ideal for low light with high pixel volume and speed
- Nyquist sampling at 40x and below
- High sensitivity even at fast speeds
- Advanced bidirectional lightsheet readout modes
This ORCA is ideal for:
- Lightsheet
- Simultaneous multi-wavelength imaging
- High-throughput widefield fluorescence
- Genetically encoded voltage imaging
- Tissue mapping
Uncompromising performance
The ORCA-FusionBT sCMOS camera is the perfect synthesis of sensitivity, speed, resoution and overall quantiative, low-light performance.
Highlights:
- Ideal for very low light applications at 60x and 100x
- Superior SNR from maximized QE, minimized noise
- Three speed/noise modes for use-specific imaging
- Exclusive, high QE, back-thinned sCMOS sensor
This ORCA is ideal for:
- Spinning disk confocal
- Lightsheet
- Optogenetics
- Structured illumination microscopy
- Single-molecule localization microscopy
The W-VIEW GEMINI image splitting optical system enables advanced imaging by dividing incident light into two distinct wavelengths, allowing both to be captured simultaneously on a camera. This system, designed for integration with microscopes, incorporates readily available dichroic or half mirrors to efficiently split and route light for imaging.
We offer two models: W-VIEW GEMINI, which uses a single camera, and W-VIEW GEMINI-2C, which employs two cameras. The W-VIEW GEMINI-2C model offers a broader field of view, ideal for applications requiring larger imaging areas.
In essence, Hamamatsu’s W-VIEW GEMINI optics system significantly enhances FRET and calcium imaging by enabling synchronized dual-wavelength acquisition, ensuring precise, real-time tracking of intracellular calcium changes crucial for understanding cellular dynamics.
The FDSS-GX Kinetic Plate Imager is a high-throughput screening (HTS) system designed specifically for drug discovery, utilizing our advanced technology developed in the field. Equipped with an FDSS-specific qCMOS sensor, it delivers exceptional quantification accuracy for fluorescence and luminescence measurements. The system includes a dispensing head with independent metal piston cylinders, compatible with 1536-well, 384-well, and 96-well formats, enabling precise and consistent micro-volume dispensing. This configuration allows for the simultaneous dispensing, measurement, and analysis of drug plates and is compatible with a variety of Ca²⁺ assays.
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