title: Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy.
abstract: Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy represents a method of exciting and visualizing fluorophores present in the near-membrane region of live or fixed cells grown on coverslips. TIRF microscopy is based on the total internal reflection phenomenon that occurs when light passes from a high-refractive medium (e.g., glass) into a low-refractive medium (e.g., cell, water). The evanescent field produced by total internally reflected light excites the fluorescent molecules at the cell-substrate interface and is accompanied by minimal exposure of the remaining cell volume. This technique provides high-contrast fluorescence images, with very low background and virtually no out-of-focus light, ideal for visualization and spectroscopy of single-molecule fluorescence near a surface. This unit presents, in a concise manner, the principle of operation, instrument diversity, and TIRF microscopy applications for the study of biological samples.
authors: Department of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, Texas, USA.
authors: Andreea
authors: A
authors: Trache
authors: Gerald A
authors: GA
authors: Meininger
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005089:Exocytosis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis; D007909:Lenses; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014780:Viruses / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes