Patent ID: 8722358
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of obtaining structural and functional information about an observed protein based on polarization fluorescence microscopy, the method comprising: I) attaching a single fluorophore molecule to a protein to be observed, II) subjecting the protein to be observed to two or multi-photon fluorescence microscopy, wherein the protein to be observed is irradiated by a laser beam with polarized light of at least two distinct polarizations, which excites fluorescence from the single fluorophore molecule, III) observing at least one fluorescence signal from the single fluorophore molecule and collecting information on localization, intensity and/or polarization of the fluorescence signal excited by the different polarizations of the laser beam, IV) observing and quantifying anisotropy of absorption based on the information on localization, intensity, and/or polarization of the fluorescence, and V) identifying structural and functional properties of the observed protein based on the observed and quantified anisotropy of absorption.