2017 Volume 57 Issue 3 Pages 144-147
In living cells, the 3D architecture of molecular assemblies such as chromosomes, lipid bilayers, and the cytoskeleton is regulated through the interaction among their component molecules. Monitoring the position and orientation of constituent molecules is important for understanding the mechanisms that govern the structure and function of these assemblies. We have developed an instantaneous fluorescence polarization microscope to track the position and orientation of fluorescently labeled particles, including single molecules, which form micron-scale macromolecular assemblies in living cells. Our imaging approach is broadly applicable to the study of dynamic molecular interactions that underpin the function of micron-scale assemblies in living cells.
