What is FCS?

	What ist FCS?

	FCS is a spectroscopic technique for the study of molecular interactions in solution. FCS monitors the random motion of fluorescently labelled molecules inside a defined volume element irradiated by a focused laser beam. These fluctuations provide information on the rate of diffusion or diffusion time of a particle and this, in turn, is directly dependent on the particle's mass. As a consequence, any increase in the mass of a biomolecule, e.g. as a result of an interaction with a second molecule, is readily detected as an increase in the particle's diffusion time. Not least due to its simple underlying principle, FCS is an ideal approach for the study of thermodynamic and kinetic features of molecular interactions in solution.		FCS with ConfoCor 3 What is FCS? How does FCS work? How does ConfoCor 3 work? What can you do with ConfoCor 3?



	What is new about FCS?

	Nothing. FCS was born almost 30 years ago now, out of the idea of correlating fluctuations in fluorescence emission of particles to parameters such as particle mass and concentration. The method's sensitivity was improved later on by incorporation of confocal detection optics and laser technology. FCS is not new but our FCS systems are. In fact, all it took was to apply our knowledge and experience in confocal optics and system automation to the optimization of instrumental parameters on our new-generation microscopes to make FCS a more powerful and easily accessible technique than ever.

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