Tunable Source for Protein Fluorescence Lifetime Studies

描述（由申请人提供）：Dakota Technologies, Inc. （DTI）开发并演示了一种低成本和用户友好的方法，该方法生成荧光衰减曲线的速度、准确性和精密度非常高。样品荧光由Nd:YAG微芯片激光器诱导，该激光器工作在高重复率（5-10 kHz），并提供亚纳秒脉冲。所产生的荧光衰减的波形直接记录通过光电倍增管（PMT）和快速数字化。可用的激发波长限制在532、355和266 nm的Nd:YAG谐波。在第一阶段SBIR项目中，将开发可以在宽波长范围内连续调谐并保持高脉冲重复频率和短脉冲持续时间的激发源。特别强调将放在275-315 nm范围内，这是最佳的荧光表征蛋白质。通过完善这些来源并将其整合到商用荧光光谱仪中，DTI将为生物化学家、生物物理学家和分子生物学家提供一种多功能、高性能的前沿研究工具。一个有前途的工业应用，验证蛋白质的生产在适当的构象，也已确定。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dakota Technologies, Inc. (DTI) has developed and demonstrated a low-cost and user-friendly method that generates fluorescence decay curves with exceptional speed, accuracy, and precision. Sample fluorescence is induced by a Nd:YAG microchip laser that operates at high repetition rate (5-10 kHz) and delivers sub-nanosecond pulses. Waveforms of the resulting fluorescence decay are directly recorded via a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and fast digitizer. The available excitation wavelengths are limited to the Nd:YAG harmonics at 532, 355, and 266 nm. Excitation sources that can be continuously tuned over a broad wavelength range and retain the high pulse repetition frequency and short pulse duration will be developed during this Phase I SBIR project. Particular emphasis will be placed on the 275-315 nm range that is optimal for fluorescence characterization of proteins. By perfecting these sources and integrating them into a commercial spectrofluorimeter, DTI will provide biochemists, biophysicists, and molecular biologists with a versatile, high performance tool for cutting edge research. A promising industrial application, verifying that proteins are produced in the appropriate conformation, has also been identified.