Integration of Total Internal Reflection (TIRF) Microscopy with the NanoTracker 2

_{KEYWORDS: Optical Tweezers; NanoTracker; TIRF; Optical Imaging; Optical Integration; Molecular Biology}

A thorough understanding of the dynamic processes in biological systems also requires highly specialized visualization techniques that yield information about the local distribution of cellular and molecular components contributing to or influenced by the generation of forces on the smallest scales.

In this technical note, we focus on the parallel use of TIRF and optical tweezers. Optical tweezers provide unprecedented accuracy in the measurement of single molecule forces. In combination with commercial or custom built TIRF illumination setups, Bruker's NanoTracker 2 system can deliver information on both the forces and the local dynamics of small numbers of molecules.

Readers can expect to learn about:

• The principle of Total Internal Reflection (TIRF) Microscopy ;
• The full compatibility of the NanoTracker Optical Tweezers System with this technology; and
• The use of this technical combination to measure forces in the piconewton range and obtain insights into dynamic processes of molecules and cells.