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Microtubules, a polymer made of tubline monomer, randomly alternate between periods of elongation and shortening in minute time range. Although the biological meaning of this phenomena is still unbigous, its mechanisms are well characterized. This paper shows another protein ParM, prokaryotic actin homolog, also displays this type of dynamic instability using total internal reflection microscopy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Interestingly, polymerization kinetics are symmetric at the both ends.
Tracking SNARE Complex Formation in Live Endocrine Cells, Science, Vol 306, Issue 5698, 1042-1046 , 5 November 2004
SNARE complex formation is monitored using the combination of SCOPE, a FRET-based sensor and total internal reflection fluorescence microscope. SCOPE is a fusion proteins made of CFP-SN1-linker-YFP-SN2, generates strong FRET, both when it entered exocytic core complexes and under conditions favoring Syx2-SCORE complexes
Paper from my graduate school (Physics, Keio) in Nature !
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