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Structural and Dynamic Characterization of Biochemical Processes by Atomic Force Microscopy

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Single Molecule Enzymology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 778))

Abstract

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has gained increasing popularity over the years among biophysicists due to its ability to image and to measure pN to nN forces on biologically relevant scales (nm to μm). Continuous technical developments have made AFM capable of nondisruptive, subsecond imaging of fragile biological samples in a liquid environment, making this method a potent alternative to light microscopy. In this chapter, we discuss the basics of AFM, its theoretical limitations, and we describe how this technique can be used to get single protein resolution in liquids at room temperature. Provided imaging is done at low-enough forces to avoid sample disruption and conformational changes, AFM allows obtaining unique insights into enzyme dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Sebastian Hanke and Jan Knappe for performing the imaging of DNA and the thermal noise measurements, and Bodo Wilts, Christoph F. Schmidt, Pedro de Pablo, and Carolina Carrasco for useful discussions. F. Eghiaian and I.A.T Schaap are supported by the DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB)/Excellence Cluster 171.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drittes Physikalisches Institut, Georg August Universität, Göttingen, Germany

    Frédéric Eghiaian & Iwan A. T. Schaap

Authors
  1. Frédéric Eghiaian
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  2. Iwan A. T. Schaap
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Correspondence to Iwan A. T. Schaap .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Division of Physical Biochemistry, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, United Kingdom

    Gregory I. Mashanov

  2. Physiologisches Institute, Zelluläre Physiologie, Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München, Schillerstrasse 44, Munich, 80336, Germany

    Christopher Batters

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Eghiaian, F., Schaap, I.A.T. (2011). Structural and Dynamic Characterization of Biochemical Processes by Atomic Force Microscopy. In: Mashanov, G., Batters, C. (eds) Single Molecule Enzymology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 778. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-261-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-261-8_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-260-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-261-8

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