Total Internal Reflection Two-Dimensional Fluorescence Lifetime Correlation Spectroscopy

Fluorescence lifetime correlation analysis is becoming a powerful tool to understand the conformational heterogeneity of biomolecules and their dynamics with an unprecedented detection sensitivity and time resolution. However, its application to the study of biomembranes is very limited. Here, we report on two-dimensional fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy (2D FLCS) in combination with total internal reflection (TIR) microscopy (TIR 2D-FLCS). High depth resolution in TIR microscopy and species-specific correlation analysis in 2D FLCS give us the opportunity to selectively analyze molecules in or on a supported lipid bilayer, a model biomembrane formed on the glass surface. Feasibility experiments performed in this study clearly demonstrated that TIR 2D-FLCS has a potential to selectively analyze the diffusion and the conformational dynamics of proteins peripherally bound on the membrane in the presence of substantial amounts of unbound molecules in the bulk phase.