Abstract

A central challenge of modern biology is the need to understand how the interactions of protein machines affect cellular physiology and the pathology. Optical imaging and spectroscopy afford unprecedented opportunities in studying these dynamical processes in vivo. Time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy has been developed to study mechanotransduction processes. Specifically, we demonstrate for the quantification of dissociation constants of focal adhesion proteins in vivo. We also observed the effects of mechanical environment on modifying these interactions.

© 2009 Optical Society of America