title: Single-molecule analysis of DNA immobilized on microspheres.
abstract: The formation and analysis of single molecules of fluorescently labeled DNA immobilized on polystyrene microspheres is described. Analysis by confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed single-step photobleaching, characteristic of a single fluorophore. Microspheres provide a means of locating single molecules by bright-field microscopy, prior to single-molecule detection. This allows the interrogation of single molecules without suffering the limitations of premature photobleaching. Statistical analysis of fluorescence intensities for >100 microspheres suggests attachment of DNA to micropsheres to be consistent with Poisson statistics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Furey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klenerman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D008863:Microspheres; D011137:Polystyrenes
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D004247:DNA