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Updated: Jul 29, 2026

A TIRF Microscopy Technique for Real-time, Simultaneous Imaging of the TCR and its Associated Signaling Proteins
Published on: March 22, 2012
A comparison of optical geometries for combined flash photolysis and total internal reflection fluorescence
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, U.K. crb5@le.ac.uk
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.
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