Rapid sampling for single-cell analysis by capillary electrophoresis.

Single-cell analyses have found increasing importance in biological investigation. Recent technical advances have made it possible to perform chemical separations of cellular constituents at the level of the individual cell. In this chapter, a laser-based method for the rapid sampling of living cells for chemical analysis using capillary electrophoresis is described. The platform technology consists of ultrasensitive laser-induced fluorescence detection in a capillary mated with a microscope integrated with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. This platform provides a flexible system for the development of new single-cell biochemical assays of a variety of intracellular enzymes.