Stephan Uphoff

Stephan Uphoff studied Physics at the Georg-August University of Goettingen, Germany between October 2005 and October 2008, focusing on Biological Physics in his final year. He obtained his  M.Sc degree in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Oxford in October 2009 based on his work on the development of single-molecule fluorescence techniques. Since October 2009, he is doing a DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics at Oxford, continuing single-molecule method development and moving towards their application.

http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/users/kapanidis/group/Main.HomePage.html

Measuring single-molecule structure and dynamics using advanced FRET methods

Single-molecule methods have changed the landscape of biological physics and biochemistry by focusing on the fundamental unit of molecular analysis: an individual molecule. Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) provides information on the structure, dynamics and interactions of biomolecules by turning the steep distance-dependence of the FRET efficiency into a nano-scale ruler. To obtain a more complete understanding of molecular heterogeneity and dynamics, advanced FRET methods have been developed to measure multiple distances. This lecture will introduce „Switchable FRET“, a method based on photoswitchable fluorophores to sequentially probe multiple FRET pairs within an individual molecule.