Controlling the fluorescence of ordinary oxazine dyes for single-molecule switching and superresolution microscopy.

ABSTRACT: Fluorescent molecular switches have widespread potential for use as sensors, material applications in electro-optical data storages and displays, and superresolution fluorescence microscopy. We demonstrate that adjustment of fluorophore properties and environmental conditions allows the use of ordinary fluorescent dyes as efficient single-molecule switches that report sensitively on their local redox condition. Adding or removing reductant or oxidant, switches the fluorescence of oxazine dyes between stable fluorescent and nonfluorescent states. At low oxygen concentrations, the off-state that we ascribe to a radical anion is thermally stable with a lifetime in the minutes range. The molecular switches show a remarkable reliability with intriguing fatigue resistance at the single-molecule

SUBMITTER: Vogelsang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2688868 | biostudies-literature | 2009 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature