Simple dark-field microscopy with nanometer spatial precision and microsecond temporal resolution.

ABSTRACT: Molecular motors such as kinesin, myosin, and F(1)-ATPase are responsible for many important cellular processes. These motor proteins exhibit nanometer-scale, stepwise movements on micro- to millisecond timescales. So far, methods developed to measure these small and fast movements with high spatial and temporal resolution require relatively complicated experimental systems. Here, we describe a simple dark-field imaging system that employs objective-type evanescent illumination to selectively illuminate a thin layer on the coverslip and thus yield images with high signal/noise ratios. Only by substituting the dichroic mirror in conventional objective-type total internal reflection fluorescence microscope with a perforated mirror, were nanometer spatial precision and microsecond temporal re

SUBMITTER: Ueno H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2862163 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature