FRET Microscopy

FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) microscopy is a technique used to study interactions between molecules inside living cells. It works by attaching special fluorescent molecules, called probes, to different parts of the molecules of interest. When these probes are very close—typically within 1-10 nanometers—energy from one (the donor) can transfer directly to the other (the acceptor), causing the acceptor to glow. By measuring this energy transfer, FRET microscopy reveals how close or how these molecules interact in real time, providing insights into cellular processes and molecular functions with high spatial resolution.