Molecular
Cytometry: New Approaches to the Analysis of Molecular Assemblies
John
Nolan
National Flow Cytometry Resource, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos
National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Over the past 30 years, flow cytometry has matured from an experimental fluorescence
detection approach to an established workhorse in the fields of immunology and
cell proliferation, with thousands of instruments installed in research and
clinical laboratories. For the past several years, we have been
exploiting the features of flow cytometry to investigate
the mechanisms of macromolecular assembly and function. Using cells to
study in situ phenomenon, and microspheres as
solid supports for in vitro analysis, we have developed powerful new
approaches to study molecular interactions. These applications are
driving the development of several new instrument capabilities, including
stopped flow mixing, dynamic temperature control, and spectral analysis
capabilities. I will illustrate the instrumentation and application
development through studies of ligand-receptor and
enzyme-substrate interactions, as well as in new applications in genomics,
proteomics, and drug discovery.