Dual-colour microscopy of single fluorophores bound to myosin interacting with fluorescently labelled actin using anti-Stokes fluorescence

J Microsc. 1997 Dec;188(Pt 3):255-63. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2818.1997.2580814.x.

Abstract

We have refined prismless total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy with extremely low background to visualize single fluorophores attached to protein molecules interacting with a filamentous biopolymer labelled with different colour fluorophores. By using Stokes and anti-Stokes fluorescence, two different colour fluorescences from two different colour fluorophores excited with a single wavelength laser can be observed simultaneously. This microscopy was applied to visualize motor proteins, actin and myosin molecules. Single myosin molecules labelled with a tetramethylrhodamine-5-iodoacetamide interacting with a BODIPY FL-labelled actin filament, a filamentous polymer of actin molecules, were observed clearly and simultaneously in aqueous solution. Individual hydrolysis reactions of Cy3-labelled ATP by single myosin molecules and sliding of a BODIPY FL-labelled actin filament along the myosin molecules could also be observed simultaneously. Thus, this technique is useful for observing single molecular processes of proteins interacting with a biological macromolecule such as an actin filament and a DNA.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Actins / ultrastructure
  • Actomyosin / metabolism
  • Actomyosin / ultrastructure
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Boron Compounds / metabolism
  • Carbocyanines / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
  • Lasers
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / instrumentation
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Microscopy, Video
  • Myosin Subfragments / metabolism*
  • Rhodamines / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene
  • Actins
  • Boron Compounds
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Myosin Subfragments
  • Rhodamines
  • cyanine dye 3
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Actomyosin