Implementation and application of FRET–FLIM technology

Abstract

With the development of the new detection methods and the function of fluorescent molecule, researchers hope to further explore the internal mechanisms of organisms, monitor changes in the intracellular microenvironment, and dynamic processes of molecular interactions in cells. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) describes the energy transfer process between donor fluorescent molecules and acceptor fluorescent molecules. It is an important means to detect protein–protein interactions and protein conformation changes in cells. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) enables noninvasive measurement of the fluorescence lifetime of fluorescent particles in vivo. The FRET–FLIM technology, which is use FLIM to quantify and analyze FRET, enables real-time monitoring of dynamic changes of proteins in biological cells and analysis of protein interaction mechanisms. The distance between donor and acceptor and their respective fluorescent lifetime, which are of great importance for studying the mechanism of intracellular activity can be obtained by data analysis and algorithm fitting.