Combining optical tweezers and scanning probe microscopy to study DNA-protein interactions

Authors :: Jurgen H.G. Huisstede
Martin L. Bennink
Vinod Subramaniam
Executive board Vrije Universiteit
Faculty of Science and Technology
Nanobiophysics
Source :: Microscopy Research and Technique, 70(1), 26-33. Wiley-Liss Inc., Microscopy research and technique, 70(1), 26-33. Wiley-Liss Inc., Huisstede, J H G, Subramaniam, V & Bennink, M L 2007, ' Combining optical tweezers and scanning probe microscopy to study DNA-protein interactions ', Microscopy Research and Technique, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 26-33 . https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.20382
Publication Year :: 2007
Publisher :: Wiley-Liss Inc., 2007.
Abstract: We present the first results obtained with a new instrument designed and built to study DNA-protein interactions at the single molecule level. This microscope combines optical tweezers with scanning probe microscopy and allows us to locate DNA-binding proteins on a single suspended DNA molecule. A single DNA molecule is stretched taut using the optical tweezers, while a probe is scanned along the molecule. Interaction forces between the probe and the sample are measured with the optical tweezers. The instrument thus enables us to correlate mechanical and functional properties of bound proteins with the tension within the DNA molecule. The typical friction force between a micropipette used as probe and a naked DNA molecule was found to be

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