活细胞内单个大分子的行为

以往细胞内大分子活动的研究,多数是许多分子活动的一个平均结果,即一种集群平均（ensemble averaging）的结果,随着各种技术,特别是光学及荧光检测技术的成熟,实时视见活细胞内单个大分子的时代已经到来.在现时条件下,有许多方法可供选择,如荧光共振能量转移、原子力显微镜、全内反射显微技术、荧光相关光谱法等等.“活细胞内单个大分子的行为”的研究有可能为了解活细胞内单个分子的活动带来完全新的认识,但目前还存在不少方法学上的局限性,有待进一步提高,如有效的特异标记物、细胞深部荧光的检测、新型显微镜的开发等.

Behavior of single molecules in live cells

Previous studies on the activity of bio-molecules in a cell were mostly performed on the basis of ensemble averaging.However,with the advent of new technology,especially optical and fluorescence techniques,it is now possible to visualize the dynamics and kinetics of a single bio-molecule in the living cell in real time.From the methodological aspect,many techniques are now available:fluorescent resonance energy transfer,atomic force microscopy,total internal reflection fluorescence,fluorescence correlation microscopy,and so forth.The investigation of single molecule behavior will probably open a new horizon in the future biological study.However,still many technical limitations existed,for example,the lack of small molecule fluorescent probes and new types of microscope with higher resolution beyond diffraction barrier,the difficulties in visualizing small fluorescent spot in the cell interior.