title: A comparison of optical geometries for combined flash photolysis and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.
abstract: Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, used in conjunction with flash photolysis, provides a useful way of investigating the kinetics of macromolecular interactions. We compare different TIRF optical geometries to establish an optimal combination. Excitation light was introduced via four different arrangements: (1) a prism positioned on the microscope optical axis, (2) an offset prism with propagation through a silica slide trans to the objective lens, (3) an offset prism with propagation through a silica coverslip cis to a water-immersion objective lens and (4) a prismless arrangement using a high NA oil-immersion objective lens. Photolysis was achieved using a Xe flash lamp and a customised silica condenser lens. Single myosin molecules labelled with a Cy3 fluorophore were used as a test sample. Although the offset trans prism gave the best signal-to-background ratio, a customised thin rhombic prism incorporated, on axis, into the flash condenser assembly was almost as good and was more practical for scanning multiple fields. An oil-immersion lens gave the brightest image for sample depths < 30 micrometer but above this limit, a water-immersion lens was better. The prismless arrangement may offer advantages in other situations but it is important to check the actual numerical aperture of the objective lens.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K. crb5@le.ac.uk
authors: P B
authors: PB
authors: Conibear
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Bagshaw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009218:Myosins / Q000502:physiology*; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010782:Photolysis; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C089187:cyanine dye 3; D009218:Myosins