Carl Zeiss has added two sections on spectral imaging and fluorescence proteins to its Zeiss Online Campus educational website.
Developed in collaboration with Mike Davidson from Florida State University, the website is an independent resource providing information about the latest techniques in fluorescence microscopy.
Among the primary advantages of using multiple fluorescent labels in fixed and living cells and tissues is the ability to observe the spatial relationship and temporal dynamics of sub-cellular constituents.
Spectral imaging combined with linear unmixing is a useful imaging technique to untangle spectrally overlapping fluorescence signals and artefacts in cells and tissues that would be otherwise difficult to separate.
By visiting the Online Campus, Zeiss said interested scientists can learn more about basic and advanced concepts of spectral imaging.
The site contains detailed articles explaining spectral imaging and Fret microscopy.
An additional article outlines important practical considerations when planning and performing spectral imaging experiments.
Interactive tutorials are also available; one in particular explains how linear unmixing works and how Fret biosensors function.
Over the past decade, fluorescent proteins have launched a new era in cell biology by enabling investigators to study cellular processes in living systems using fluorescence microscopy and related methodology.
By applying selected promoters and targeting signals, fluorescent protein biosensors can be introduced into an intact organism and directed to a host of specific tissues, cell types, as well as sub-cellular compartments to enable a focus on monitoring a variety of physiological processes.
The new fluorescent protein section on the Zeiss Online Campus explains in detail how fluorescent proteins function and how they are best used in fluorescence microscopy.
Detailed articles cover topics such as spectral properties, brightness and maturation, phototoxicity and photostability of the various fluorescent proteins and offer practical advice on their applications in live cell imaging.
Various interactive tutorials explain chromophore formation and related functions in many fluorescent proteins such as EGFP, PA-GFP, Kaede and Dronpa.
At the site, researchers can find application image galleries, are invited to share their own applications in an application library and can visit the reference library to find key review articles on the most important topics in fluorescence microscopy, including spectral imaging, FRET and fluorescent proteins.
