title: Advances in quantitative FRET-based methods for studying nucleic acids.
abstract: Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a powerful tool for monitoring molecular distances and interactions at the nanoscale level. The strong dependence of transfer efficiency on probe separation makes FRET perfectly suited for "on/off" experiments. To use FRET to obtain quantitative distances and three-dimensional structures, however, is more challenging. This review summarises recent studies and technological advances that have improved FRET as a quantitative molecular ruler in nucleic acid systems, both at the ensemble and at the single-molecule levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Preus
authors.forename: L Marcus
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wilhelmsson
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D004247:DNA