16.1. Abstract
Using luminescent lanthanides, instead of conventional fluorophores, as donor molecules in resonance energy transfer measurements offers many technical advantages and opens up a wide-range of new applications. Advantages include farther measurable distances (∼ 100 Å) with greater accuracy, and insensitivity to incomplete labeling. We have also generated new luminescent lanthanide compounds with various advantages over more conventional probes. Applications highlighted include the study of ion channels in living cells and measuring in vitro conformation changes within smooth muscle myosin