Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Dual-Color Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy to Study Protein-Protein Interaction and Protein Dynamics in Live Cells
Published on: December 11, 2021
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in cells: confinement and excluded volume effects.
Iris von der Hocht1, Jörg Enderlein
1Institute for Neurobiology and Biophysics 1, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements in cells are affected by molecular confinement. Geometric restrictions near spherical boundaries alter diffusion times, impacting data interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Biophysical Research
- Cellular Dynamics
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) is vital for studying molecular mobility in living cells.
- Understanding molecular diffusion in confined cellular environments is crucial for biological insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate the impact of spherical confinement on FCS measurements.
- To analyze how molecular exclusion by a spherical region affects the autocorrelation function.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of diffusion within a spherical boundary.
- Analysis of the autocorrelation function in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Geometric restrictions near spherical boundaries significantly alter diffusion times.
- The detection volume's geometry influences the measured autocorrelation function.
Conclusions:
- Confinement effects must be considered for accurate FCS data interpretation in cellular studies.
- Accurate evaluation of in vivo molecular mobilities requires accounting for geometric restrictions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

