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Single-molecule force spectroscopy: optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers and atomic force microscopy
Nature Methodsvolume 5, pages491–505 (2008)Cite this article
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Abstract
Single-molecule force spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool to investigate the forces and motions associated with biological molecules and enzymatic activity. The most common force spectroscopy techniques are optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers and atomic force microscopy. Here we describe these techniques and illustrate them with examples highlighting current capabilities and limitations.
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Acknowledgements
K.C.N. and A.N. are supported by the Intramural Program of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. We thank G. Liou, R. Neuman and Y. Takagi for critical reading of the manuscript. K.C.N. acknowledges D. Bensimon, V. Croquette and S. Block, in addition to members of their labs.
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Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 50, 50 South Drive, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA
Keir C Neuman
Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 50, 50 South Drive, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland, USA
Attila Nagy
- Keir C Neuman
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Neuman, K., Nagy, A. Single-molecule force spectroscopy: optical tweezers, magnetic tweezers and atomic force microscopy.Nat Methods5, 491–505 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.1218
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