Fig. 3: Comparative fluorescence QY of dyes in buffer and coacervate.

A Fluorescence τ of Cy3 dye in the HP and dsDNA confirmation and in buffer or with coacervates. τ determined through multiexponential tail-fittings, presented as amplitude averages. B Fluorescence τ of Cy5 dye in the HP and dsDNA confirmation and in buffer or with coacervates. C Increase in steady-state fluorescence emission and fluorescence lifetime of Cy3, Cy5, and DNA containing both dyes (FRET pair) when comparing the coacervate condition to the buffer condition. The numerical result arises from the average of both the HP and dsDNA confomation. Uncertainties represent propogation of the uncertanties of lifetime fits and the intensities of the individual Cy3 and Cy5 components. The FRET pair, which looked at the total fluorescence from both dyes, has a noticeable difference between steady-state and lifetime increases, we assign this to the fact that the fluorescence lifetimes will under-represent quenched dark states of the dyes, particularly prevelant in the HP form.