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. 1998 May;74(5):2223–2226. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(98)77931-7

Direct observation of ligand colocalization on individual receptor molecules.

G J Schütz 1, W Trabesinger 1, T Schmidt 1
PMCID: PMC1299565  PMID: 9591649

Abstract

We have exploited the novel methodology of far-field fluorescence microscopy at the single molecule level to study colocalization of two different ligand molecules on an individual receptor. The use of dual-wavelength single molecule imaging allows discrimination between isolated and colocalized ligands with an accuracy of 40 nm. In the case of very close proximity of the two ligands, below 7 nm, single pair Forster energy-transfer was observed. The latter finding unequivocally demonstrates colocalization of two ligands on an individual receptor.

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Selected References

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