Work

Experimental approaches for addressing fundamental biological questions in living, functioning cells with single molecule precision

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: In recent years, single molecule experimentation has allowed researchers to observe biological processes at the sensitivity level of single molecules in actual functioning, living cells, thereby allowing us to observe the molecular basis of the key mechanistic processes in question in a very direct way, rather than inferring these from ensemble average data gained from traditional molecular and biochemical techniques. In this short review, we demonstrate the impact that the application of single molecule bioscience experimentation has had on our understanding of various cellular systems and processes, and the potential that this approach has for the future to really address very challenging and fundamental questions in the life sciences.

Source: Open Biology

DOI: 10.1098/rsob.120090

Authors: Tchern Lenn, Mark C. Leake

Institutions: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Oxford

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques

Subfield: Biophysics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,839

Funders: Cancer Research UK, Royal Society, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory