Build your own smfBox - everything you need to build and run accurate and dynamic smFRET experiments - cheaply! #openAccess #openSource #openMicroscopy Paper here: rdcu.be/b9Prx And a great intro video here from the master of microscopy nightmares @DrLachie. Enjoy!

👋 Do you lead a core facility offering powerful structural techniques like cryo-EM or X-ray crystallography? Many biological systems are dynamic in solution. Techniques like smFRET and FCS complement structural approaches by resolving conformational dynamics, heterogeneity, and interactions in real time. Add a solution-based, single-molecule layer to your facility’s capabilities - and help users connect structure to function. Learn how to complement your structural toolkit with dynamics using the EI-FLEX system: excitinginstruments.com/ei-f… #corefacility #biophysics #biochemistry #singlemolecule

⚡ Rapid quantification of binding affinities is essential when developing and characterising antibodies, or smaller binders such as Fabs. In our latest application note - produced in collaboration with the Coleman Lab at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - we demonstrate how fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) can be performed using the EI-FLEX to assess antibody-antigen binding affinities and generate Kd values for candidate molecules. Nikfarjam et al. used the EI-FLEX to assess the binding of single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) and antibody fragments (Fabs) against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. A homebuilt system was used to perform FCS on full-length antibodies. Discover how: • FCS can determine Kd values for a range of binders, such as monoclonal antibodies, scFvs and Fabs • High-throughput data acquisition and analysis permit rapid assessment of binding affinity for molecules produced by different methods, such as in cell-free systems • Different labels, such as FLAG-tags, can impact antibody-antigen binding Interested in moving away from the surface to quantify antibody affinities in solution? Download our app note to learn more! > excitinginstruments.com/reso… #FCS #antibodyantigenbinding #binding

👋 Are you studying the organisation of cell membrane receptors but feel frustrated by standard imaging methods that can’t give the resolution or specificity needed to really understand the composition in enough detail? This is where Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) stands out. With its ability to deliver high spatio-temporal resolution, FCS enables researchers to probe membrane dynamics with precision, while remaining flexible across diverse biological samples and labelling strategies. 👀 Check out Joelle Goulding's Exciting Seminar where she shares her work applying FCS in biological systems to characterise: • Diffusional movement • Expression levels • Stoichiometry of membrane proteins 💪 By examining how these parameters change in response to drug stimuli, her research helps uncover how receptors are regulated, how they are organised, and ultimately how this organisation shapes cellular responses. Watch here > youtu.be/YzFw-TLG1Bk #FCS #dynamics #biophysics #singlemolecule #proteindynamics

🔍 Do you want to know whether your biomolecules form static, heterogeneous populations or are dynamically interconverting? Our latest application note highlights how the EI-FLEX system can recover rates of molecular conformational dynamics, using DNA hairpins as a well-characterised test system. DNA hairpins reversibly transition between open and closed states on a millisecond timescale, with kinetics that are sensitive to NaCl concentration. This makes them an ideal model for validating kinetic measurements using #smFRET. In this application note, you will discover how: • smFRET can capture conformation dynamics of molecular structures • Burst variance analysis separates static, heterogeneous populations from those that are dynamically undergoing conformational changes • The influence of salt concentrations on the opening and closing rates of DNA hairpins can be determined by photon-by-photon hidden Markov modelling If you want to get more out of your #FRET histograms and delve into your dynamic data, access the application note here > excitinginstruments.com/reso… #DNA #biomolecules #conformationaldynamics

🎩 Core facility managers wear every hat. Uptime, data quality, training users, space constraints... all at once. That’s why the tools that truly earn their place in a shared facility have a few things in common: 💪 Robust performance and reliability ⚡ Fast, intuitive workflows for every user level 🦶 Small footprint, big scientific reach We'd love to speak to core facility managers who want to offer easy and reliable access to traditionally complex biophysical techniques like smFRET, FCS and FCCS.... because we have a very Exciting solution! Learn more and get in touch > excitinginstruments.com/?utm… #smFRET #corefacilities #biophysics #FCS #singlemolecule

👀 At the Biophysical Society conference this week, but haven't visited both 401 yet? Here are 6 reasons why you should! 🔬 See how you can bring single-molecule smFRET and FCS into your own lab - no dark room or specialist expertise required 🧬 Discover how to uncover transient intermediates and conformational dynamics that ensemble methods may be missing 📊 Learn how to quantify binding kinetics and stoichiometry in solution with true single-molecule sensitivity 🧊 Talk to us about adding highly complementary, real-time dynamics to your cryo-EM, X-ray, or NMR structures and bringing static models to life 💻 See how intuitive software and built-in guidance make expert-level data accessible - with full experimental support from our team 🤝 Meet our highly knowledgeable single-molecule specialists and discuss how we can support your next project or grant Plus @Craggs_Lab, Mahmoud, Audrey, Jake and Josh are poised and ready to talk to you about our brand new system, the EI-FLEX Pro. ✓ Automated alignment and focus ✓ Real-time analysis and publication-ready plots ✓ Scale when you're ready with a modular design that allows an easy upgrade to 96 or 384-well plates ✓ Compact benchtop footprint See you at booth 401! #bps #singlemolecule #biophysics #biomolecules #discovery

Congratulations to Alison Twelvetrees, Evelyn Smith and team at the University of Sheffield on their publication in iScience! - cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S… Amazing to see the in-cell labelling and smFRET measurements in cell lysate. #smfret #celllysate #singlemolecule #proteins

"Biology happens when individual molecules interact - it happens in solution, in motion, and often in fleeting moments that determine function. Freely diffusing smFRET captures these moments with nanometre precision, giving researchers access to conformational landscapes, binding kinetics, and mechanistic pathways that bulk or immobilised methods simply can't capture. Whether you want to free yourself from the frustrations of immobilised single-molecule methods, see your beautiful static structures come to life in their native environment, or unlock deeper mechanistic insights with dynamic structural context, this handbook is designed to support you." This quote from our founder and CEO, @Craggs_Lab , explains why we've created a practical handbook for smFRET. It brings together the core principles, experimental workflows, and analytical strategies that underpin modern smFRET. Designed for researchers at every stage - from newcomers to seasoned practitioners - it distils the essential knowledge required to generate high-quality, in-solution smFRET data and interpret it with confidence. Available to download now - excitinginstruments.com/smfr… #singlemolecule #molecularbiophysics #structuralbiology #smFRET #scienceresource

Looking forward to a busy week!

🇺🇸 This time next week, we'll be midway through a trip to beautiful San Francisco to meet with investors and customers. If you’ll be in the area and would like to catch up while we’re there, we’d love to connect to discuss the impact of in-solution single-molecule techniques for academia and industry, as well as our Exciting plans for 2026. Just reply to this post or contact us at info@excitinginstruments.com. We're around Monday through Thursday. Hope to see you there! #startups #sanfrancisco #singlemolecule #smFRET #FCS #FCCS

We are recruiting! PDRA to work on a BBSRC funded position with Prof. Yiliang Ding and Dr. Tim Craggs. We are looking for someone with experience with cell culture and gene expression analysis - Please do share. Details below: ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search…

🔎 Curious how in-solution single-molecule FRET is becoming essential for linking structure, dynamics, and function in complex protein systems? Catch up on Professor @shenk0128's Exciting Seminar now, in which he showcases his work using single-molecule FRET and the EI-FLEX to reveal the dynamic global conformations of the Rag GTPase dimer in mTORC1 amino-acid sensing. The Q&A at the end included questions around labelling strategy, Hidden Markov models, and why solution-based smFRET - extremely valuable insights for researchers entering the smFRET space! Watch now > youtu.be/2AfskEVyRCI #smfret #proteins #singlemolecule #proteindynamics #biophysics #lifescience

🚀 This month's newsletter includes an extremely Exciting initiative - submit a proposal on how you'd use the EI-FLEX in your lab, and you will be considered for a 2-month, no obligation trial! Read the newsletter for more information, plus see smFRET in action, save the date for our next big seminar, and much more > linkedin.com/pulse/october-r… Subscribe to never miss an edition > fwfh6.share-eu1.hsforms.com/… #biophysics #singlemolecule #moleculardynamics #startups #deeptech #lifescience

How can our super stable, compact and easy-to-use single molecule tools bring your static models to life? Our Senior Application Scientist Mahmoud shared a poster on this topic at last week's Advances in Structural Analysis of Biomolecules conference. You can check out his poster below 👇 We'd love to hear from you if you have questions or would like to explore any points in more detail. Feel free to email us at info@excitinginstruments.com to find out more. #poster #structuralbiology #singlemolecule #moleculardynamics #molecularbiology #biophysics

Probing molecular interactions often means long prep times - purification, immobilisation, multiple steps, and extensive training - before you even see results. Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) changes that. By capturing the mobility of fluorescently labelled molecules directly in complex solutions, FCS cuts unnecessary steps and delivers actionable data faster in a homogenous assay format. It also unlocks real-time insight into binding kinetics, revealing how complexes form and dissociate in solution. 👀 FCS advantages at a glance: ✓ In-solution measurements, no immobilisation needed ✓ Minimal prep - label, mix, measure ✓ Set up in less than a day with intuitive software ✓ First correlation curves within minutes ✓ Easy to learn for new users ✓ Investigate multi-component complexes with Fluorescence Cross Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS) With FCS and FCCS, advanced kinetic and biophysical studies become more accessible, so you spend less time setting up and more time discovering. Learn more > excitinginstruments.com/fluo… #fcs #fccs #biophysics #kinetics

Congratulations to Dylan Doxsey and Kuang Shen on their new paper, 'Global conformation of the Rag GTPase heterodimer governs eukaryotic amino acid sensing' 🙌 They used our stable, compact instrument the EI-FLEX and smFRET measurements to emphasise that Rag GTPases’ global conformation is as vital as local nucleotide binding in amino acid sensing. pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.25… Want to learn more about how our ready-to-use tools quantify the dynamics in protein complexes? Find Mahmoud and Roman from our team at the #AdvancesinStructuralAnalysisofBiomolecules in Berlin today and tomorrow! #smFRET #singlemolecule #proteinconformation #aminoacids

🚀 Ready to take the next exciting step in your career journey and join our mission to democratise single-molecule analysis, bringing unprecedented molecular insight to every life science researcher and drug developer through tools that are as powerful as they are effortless to use? We have three new roles on the website ready for your applications: - Scientific Creative Writer - Product Manager – Assay Kits - Field Application Scientists (several opportunities available!) Find out more below and view the roles in detail here > excitinginstruments.com/care… 🚨 More coming soon! #sheffieldjobs #startupjobs #hiring #lifescience #scaleup

It was brilliant to talk dynamic single-molecule data with fellow scientists and researchers yesterday at The Francis Crick Institute. 🇩🇪 Next stop - Advances in Structural Analysis of Biomolecules at Charité in Berlin on the 23rd - 24th October! Will we see you there? Message us at info@excitinginstruments.com if you'd like to discover how solution-based methods like smFRET and FCS can easily augment your static structures with dynamic single-molecule data. Make sure you check out our Senior Application Scientist Mahmoud's poster P017 whilst there! #advancesinstructuralanalysisofbiomolecules #chembiochem #chemphyschem #structuralbiology

"Absolutely gorgeous!" That's how Edwin Antony describes the data from our EI-FLEX instrument in his Exciting Seminar, where he discusses how DNA context regulates the myriad roles of RPA. 👀 Check out the seminar in full to learn more: youtube.com/watch?v=r0yowVKd… 📖 And the related paper here: academic.oup.com/nar/article… #DNA #singlemolecule #molecularbiology #biophysics #structuralbiology

This is next level protein design! Absolute genius. Would love to look at the induced conformational change using single-molecule FRET.