Single molecule fluorescence: from physical fascination to biological relevance

Confocal fluorescence microscopy is particularly well-known from the beautiful images that have been obtained with this technique from cells. Several cellular components could be nicely visualized simultaneously by staining them with different fluorophores. Not only for ensemble applications but also in single molecule research confocal fluorescence microscopy became a popular technique. In this thesis the possibilities are shown to study a complicated biological process, which is Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER), on the single molecule level with confocal fluorescence microscopy. In chapter one an introduction is given in single molecule fluorescence, properties of fluorescent labels and immobilization methods. Also the NER process is described and the configuration of the confocal fluorescence microscope used.