News and Press Releases

February 1, 2024

Course on Time-resolved Microscopy in Berlin

Registration is now open

From May 14 to 17, 2024 PicoQuant will hold the 16th International Course on "Time-resolved Microscopy and Correlation Spectroscopy" in Berlin. Benefit from this in-person event with theoretical as well as practical sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities. 

Register by February 19, 2024 and pay the early bird rate.

January 4, 2024

A deep dive into biomolecular condensates using single-molecule FRET

Webinar with Professor Samrat Mukhopadhyay

Cells house organelles enclosed by membranes, which partition cellular components. Recent captivating research suggests an additional means of intracellular compartmentalization and organization, namely liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids, forming noncanonical membrane-less organelles. These dynamic biomolecular condensates, resembling liquids, may undergo undesirable irreversible phase transitions, leading to gel-like or solid-like amyloid aggregates. Such transformations are linked to various severe human diseases.

In a brand-new paper, Ashish Joshi and colleagues from the team of Samrat Mukhopadhyay at IISER Mohali take a close look at the molecular events during phase separation of the prion-like domain of the FUS protein with single-molecule fluorescence methods.

Our speaker, Professor Samrat Mukhopadhyay, will present ‘A deep dive into biomolecular condensates using single-molecule FRET’. The webinar is on Thursday 11 January at 14:00 GMT, 15:00 CET and 19:30 IST.

If you want to learn what single molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques revealed about the complex behavior of the FUS low-complexity domain during liquid-liquid phase separation, register for our upcoming webinar featuring Prof. Samrat Mukhopadhyay, co-hosted with FocalPlane.

Register!

December 13, 2023

PicoQuant donates 3000 EUR to Berlin summt!

The money will contribute to the expansion of "Stepping Stone Habitats"

PicoQuant donates 3000 EUR to Berlin summt!, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about urban nature among Berlin's residents and nurturing a sustainable appreciation for bees. Mariola Axmann, responsible for Human Resources at PicoQuant, presented the symbolic check to Dr. Corinna Hölzer and Cornelis F. Hemmer, the founders of Berlin summt!, on December 12.

"We are very grateful to PicoQuant for their financial support. Your donation will significantly contribute to the expansion of our Stepping Stone Habitats," expressed Dr. Corinna Hölzer. Cornelis F. Hemmer, the co-founder of the initiative, added, "Stepping Stone Habitats are 20–30 square meter natural 'islands' in residential areas that attract hungry insects and birds, creating a captivating mini-nature spectacle right at our doorstep."

The donation is a recurring initiative by PicoQuant, where employees are invited to nominate three regional charity organizations for consideration as beneficiaries. Among these initiatives, Berlin summt!, Welcome Baby Bag, and Schutzengelwerk have been nominated and selected to receive donations of 3000 EUR, 2000 EUR, and 1000 EUR, respectively, thanks to the choices made by PicoQuant employees. These contributions underscore the team's unwavering commitment to making a positive impact within their local community.

November 23, 2023

PicoQuant Strengthens Presence in the UK Through Strategic Partnership with Laser 2000

PicoQuant Expands its Network of Distributors

This collaboration signifies a significant milestone for both PicoQuant and Laser 2000, as it combines PicoQuant's cutting-edge technology with Laser 2000's extensive network and market expertise. The move is expected to enhance accessibility to PicoQuant's state-of-the-art solutions for researchers, scientists, and professionals in the UK.

PicoQuant’s Head of Sales, Uwe Ortmann, expressed enthusiasm about this development, stating, "We are thrilled to join forces with Laser 2000 in expanding our presence in the UK. This partnership not only signifies a strategic move for us but also presents a remarkable opportunity for the scientific community in the UK to benefit from our advanced products and expertise.”

Laser 2000, with its strong track record in the photonics industry, is poised to provide outstanding service and support to PicoQuant's customers in the UK. The partnership is expected to usher in a new era of accessibility and innovation for researchers and professionals in the region.

“I am delighted that Laser 2000 (UK) has been appointed PicoQuant’s exclusive value-added reseller to customers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Our team of expert life scientists, physicists and chemists will be working with customers to understand their needs in depth. We will then design and supply PicoQuant solutions to enable them to carry out world-leading science. PicoQuant and Laser 2000 (UK) are trusted by customers to go the extra mile to meet their exact needs, and to deliver very high levels of post-sales application support and service.  That reflects the assurance Laser 2000 (UK) has delivered to its customers throughout the thirty-two years of its existence, and the reliability and technology leadership PicoQuant is renowned for delivering,” commented Dr David Gillet, Group Managing Director at Laser 2000.

The partnership between PicoQuant and Laser 2000 is set to reinforce PicoQuant's presence in the global market while fortifying Laser 2000's position as a leading distributor of photonics solutions.

November 6, 2023

Streamlined Single-Molecule FRET and FCS Measurements for Structural Biology and Phase Separation Studies

Webinar on demand now available

Quantitative single-molecule and time-resolved fluorescence techniques offer new insights into many samples from various research areas such as dynamic structural biology, cellular mechanisms driven by phase separation, and virology. Using examples from these areas, Dr. Maria Loidolt-Krüger shows how single-molecule FRET (smFRET), fluorescence (cross-)correlation spectroscopy, and time-resolved anisotropy can be combined to get a comprehensive picture of the sample under investigation.

In order to get reliable, quantitative results, many factors like laser power, or spectral bleed-through need to be considered. These will be discussed, together with ways to increase the accuracy and reproducibility of experiments, with a focus on smFRET studies. Ultimately, findings from in vitro studies need to be linked to studies in cells and tissues. Maria showcases how this can be achieved by taking FCS into cells, and by going from smFRET to FRET imaging, and from time-resolved anisotropy to anisotropy imaging.

The presentation is available on demand on our website.