Question

What is the utilized equipment for studying fluorescence-labelled cells? What are the advantages of labelling the cells?            

Answer 1

In this case, the main equipment used in fluorescence is the epi-fluorescence microscope. However, spectrophotometers and flow cytometers are also used during fluorescent labelling. Generally, cells are labelled with an fluorescent antibody against a specific molecule on their surface or inside the cell. These antibodies have high affinity and they posses a fluorophore on their structure which allow us to observe a fluorescent signal.

This technique posses several advantages. In first place, it allow us to observe the location of different molecules on the cell and also it allows us to track the destiny of the molecule. Other advantage is that we can measure the concentration of a molecule in the cell during a process, after a treatment or during normal conditions.