Characterization of dark quencher chromophores as nonfluorescent acceptors for single-molecule FRET.

ABSTRACT: Dark quenchers are chromophores that primarily relax from the excited state to the ground state nonradiatively (i.e., are dark). As a result, they can serve as acceptors for Förster resonance energy transfer experiments without contributing significantly to background in the donor-emission channel, even at high concentrations. Although the advantages of dark quenchers have been exploited for ensemble bioassays, no systematic single-molecule study of dark quenchers has been performed, and little is known about their photophysical properties. Here, we present the first systematic single-molecule study of dark quenchers in conjunction with fluorophores and demonstrate the use of dark quenchers for monitoring multiple interactions and distances in multichromophore systems. Specifically, using

SUBMITTER: Le Reste L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3368131 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature