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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Visualizing Single Molecular Complexes In Vivo Using Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: September 8, 2009
Biology, one molecule at a time
Achillefs N Kapanidis1, Terence Strick
1Department of Physics and Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration in Bionanotechnology, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. a.kapanidis1@physics.ox.ac.uk
Abstract:
Single-molecule techniques have moved from being a fascinating curiosity to a highlight of life science research. The single-molecule approach to biology offers distinct advantages over the conventional approach of taking bulk measurements; this additional information content usually comes at the cost of the additional complexity. Popular single-molecule methods include optical and magnetic tweezers, atomic force microscopy, tethered particle motion and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy; the complement of these methods offers a wide range of spatial and temporal capabilities. These approaches have been instrumental in addressing important biological questions in diverse areas such as protein-DNA interactions, protein folding and the function(s) of membrane proteins.
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