Fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP)
Analysing the mobility of biomolecules
FRAP is a method to analyse the rate of diffusion of biomolecules (e.g., lipids, proteins and glycans) within cells, on cell membranes and in extracellular matrix, and in models thereof. This optical microscopy technique requires the chemical conjugation of fluorophores onto the biomolecule of interest.
Once biomolecules are conjugated with a fluorescent marker, a defined region of the sample is treated with high-intensity light to destroy fluorescence locally. This will leave a dark patch, and diffusion of other still-fluorescing molecules into the region can then be observed, as they replace the photobleached molecules. From the rate of fluorescence recovery, the molecular diffusion constant can be determined.
Credit: Lei Jin / Youtube
Applications in our research
FRAP is a technique used widely across biomedical research. It is used across much of our current research; to learn more, please click on any of the below icons.
