Sugawa Mitsuhiro, Arai Yoshiyuki, Iwane Atsuko Hikikoshi, Ishii Yoshiharu, Yanagida Toshio
Laboratories of Nanobiology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University 1-3, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Biosystems. 2007 Apr;88(3):243-50. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2006.09.041. Epub 2006 Nov 9.
Single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is the technique that has been developed by combining FRET measurement and single molecule fluorescence imaging. This technique allows us to measure the dynamic changes of the interaction and structures of biomolecules. In this study, the validity of the method was tested using fluorescence dyes on double stranded DNA molecules as a rigid spacer. FRET signals from double stranded DNA molecules were stable and their average FRET values provided the distance between the donor and acceptor in agreement with B-DNA type helix model. Next, the single molecule FRET method was applied to the studies on the dynamic structure of Ras, a signaling protein. The data showed that Ras has multiple conformational states and undergoes transition between them. This study on the dynamic conformation of Ras provided a clue for understanding the molecular mechanism of cell signaling switches.
单分子荧光共振能量转移(FRET)是一种通过结合FRET测量和单分子荧光成像技术而开发的技术。该技术使我们能够测量生物分子相互作用和结构的动态变化。在本研究中,使用双链DNA分子上的荧光染料作为刚性间隔物来测试该方法的有效性。双链DNA分子的FRET信号稳定,其平均FRET值提供了供体和受体之间的距离,与B-DNA型螺旋模型一致。接下来,将单分子FRET方法应用于对信号蛋白Ras动态结构的研究。数据表明,Ras具有多种构象状态,并在它们之间发生转变。这项关于Ras动态构象的研究为理解细胞信号开关的分子机制提供了线索。