Academic Journal
Energy transfer leaves fingerprints in cyanine photoswitching behavior.
| Τίτλος: | Energy transfer leaves fingerprints in cyanine photoswitching behavior. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Ebert V; Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany., Sauer M; Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany.; Rudolf Virchow Center, Research Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany., Doose S; Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany. |
| Πηγή: | PLoS computational biology [PLoS Comput Biol] 2026 May 18; Vol. 22 (5), pp. e1014322. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 18 (Print Publication: 2026). |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101238922 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1553-7358 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 1553734X NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS Comput Biol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science, [2005]- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Carbocyanines*/chemistry , Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer*/methods , Fluorescent Dyes*/chemistry , Energy Transfer*, Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods ; Markov Chains ; Computational Biology ; Software |
| Περίληψη: | Super-resolution microscopy resolves molecular structures in biological systems but is limited by properties of the fluorescent labels. dSTORM experiments with multiple Cy5 fluorophores in sub-10 nm spaced labelling positions have shown distinct cumulative localization counts over time, depending on the distances between the fluorophores, that suggest Förster resonance energy transfer between ON states and long living OFF states. This photophysical effect hinders precise localization of the individual emitters but produces a photoswitching fingerprint that can be used to draw conclusions about sub-10 nm spatial conformations in molecular structures that are not spatially resolvable. Here we present a theoretical framework for analysing the photophysical systems that yield distinct fingerprint signatures. We developed a Python-based continuous-time Markov chain simulation software package that reproduces the photophysical processes of organic fluorophores. We show that the established photophysical models of Cy5 extended by Förster resonance energy transfer between the excited singlet state and the long living OFF state explain experimental fingerprint signatures as seen in dSTORM experiments. Matching experimental signatures including fluorescence lifetimes provides evidence for an additional energy transfer to the radical anion of cyanine dyes like Cy5. This work contributes to the understanding of proximity-based photophysical processes and paves the way for future development of sub-10 nm dSTORM imaging. (Copyright: © 2026 Ebert et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.) |
| Competing Interests: | The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Carbocyanines) 0 (cyanine dye 5) 0 (Fluorescent Dyes) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260518 Date Completed: 20260716 Latest Revision: 20260716 |
| Update Code: | 20260717 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13197066 |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1014322 |
| PMID: | 42149961 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1553-7358 |
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| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1014322 |