Fluorescence spectroscopy is a versatile technique which allows to analyze, at steady-state or in real time, the variations of the environment of fluorescent probes, either intrinsic (for instance tryptophans in the case of proteins) or extrinsic (synthetic fluorophores). This technology can notably be applied to the study of the conformational stability of macromolecules, the characterization of molecular interactions and the quantification of enzymatic activities.
The PFBMI has a high sensitivity fluorimeter (Quantamaster QM4CW, Photon Technology International), equipped with modules allowing to measure steady-state fluorescence in normal or polarized light (fluorescence anisotropy measurements), the emission of light into the near infrared (measurements of phosphorescence or long-lived fluorescence “HTRF”) and fluorescence lifetime.
