Sensitivity of energy transfer to Fn-D/A unfolding in denaturing
solution. Fn-D/A emission spectra were measured by using an
epifluorescence microscope with an attached spectrometer. Spectra were
normalized to the donor peak so that changes in energy transfer were
indicated by changes in the acceptor peak. Fn-D/A was progressively
denatured over a range of Gdn⋅HCl concentrations, from 0 M to 8 M.
Fn-D/A in 0 M Gdn⋅HCl is shown in red, 0.5 M in orange, 1 M in
yellow, 2 M in light green, 3 M in dark green, 4 M in purple, and 8 M
in black. The emission spectrum of Fn-D/A in 8 M Gdn⋅HCl was
indistinguishable from that of a mixture of free donor and acceptor
fluorophores in PBS. The small shoulder at 570 nm at 8 M Gdn⋅HCl
was not caused by energy transfer, but by superposition of the
donor fluorescence tail and fluorescence from direct excitation of the
acceptor. (Inset) FRET (acceptor peak divided by donor
peak) as a function of Gdn⋅HCl concentration.