title: RNA folding dynamics by single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer.
abstract: Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) microscopy has become an increasingly popular tool to study the structural dynamics of RNA molecules. It reveals, in real time, the structural dynamics of these molecules that would be otherwise hidden in ensemble-averaged measurements. Here we present a detailed protocol for performing smFRET using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, including RNA preparation, optical setup, separation of the dual color channels, sample immobilization and data acquisition and analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rueda
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D008390:Markov Chains; D044085:Microfluidics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016011:Normal Distribution; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D012313:RNA