TY - JOUR
T1 - Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy
T2 - Past, present, future
AU - Elson, Elliot L.
N1 - Funding Information:
I thank the National Institutes of Health (R01-GM084200) and the National Science Foundation (CMMI 0826518) for their financial support.
PY - 2011/12/21
Y1 - 2011/12/21
N2 - In recent years fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has become a routine method for determining diffusion coefficients, chemical rate constants, molecular concentrations, fluorescence brightness, triplet state lifetimes, and other molecular parameters. FCS measures the spatial and temporal correlation of individual molecules with themselves and so provides a bridge between classical ensemble and contemporary single-molecule measurements. It also provides information on concentration and molecular number fluctuations for nonlinear reaction systems that complement single-molecule measurements. Typically implemented on a fluorescence microscope, FCS samples femtoliter volumes and so is especially useful for characterizing small dynamic systems such as biological cells. In addition to its practical utility, however, FCS provides a window on mesoscopic systems in which fluctuations from steady states not only provide the basis for the measurement but also can have important consequences for the behavior and evolution of the system. For example, a new and potentially interesting field for FCS studies could be the study of nonequilibrium steady states, especially in living cells.
AB - In recent years fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has become a routine method for determining diffusion coefficients, chemical rate constants, molecular concentrations, fluorescence brightness, triplet state lifetimes, and other molecular parameters. FCS measures the spatial and temporal correlation of individual molecules with themselves and so provides a bridge between classical ensemble and contemporary single-molecule measurements. It also provides information on concentration and molecular number fluctuations for nonlinear reaction systems that complement single-molecule measurements. Typically implemented on a fluorescence microscope, FCS samples femtoliter volumes and so is especially useful for characterizing small dynamic systems such as biological cells. In addition to its practical utility, however, FCS provides a window on mesoscopic systems in which fluctuations from steady states not only provide the basis for the measurement but also can have important consequences for the behavior and evolution of the system. For example, a new and potentially interesting field for FCS studies could be the study of nonequilibrium steady states, especially in living cells.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84055200363&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.012
DO - 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.012
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22208184
AN - SCOPUS:84055200363
SN - 0006-3495
VL - 101
SP - 2855
EP - 2870
JO - Biophysical Journal
JF - Biophysical Journal
IS - 12
ER -