TY - JOUR
T1 - Observing structure, function and assembly of single proteins by AFM
AU - Müller, Daniel J.
AU - Janovjak, Harald
AU - Lehto, Tiina
AU - Kuerschner, Lars
AU - Anderson, Kurt
PY - 2002/5
Y1 - 2002/5
N2 - Single molecule experiments provide insight into the individuality of biological macromolecules, their unique function, reaction pathways, trajectories and molecular interactions. The exceptional signal-to-noise ratio of the atomic force microscope allows individual proteins to be imaged under physiologically relevant conditions at a lateral resolution of 0.5-1nm and a vertical resolution of 0.1-0.2nm. Recently, it has become possible to observe single molecule events using this technique. This capability is reviewed on various water-soluble and membrane proteins. Examples of the observation of function, variability, and assembly of single proteins are discussed. Statistical analysis is important to extend conclusions derived from single molecule experiments to protein species. Such approaches allow the classification of protein conformations and movements. Recent developments of probe microscopy techniques allow simultaneous measurement of multiple signals on individual macromolecules, and greatly extend the range of experiments possible for probing biological systems at the molecular level. Biologists exploring molecular mechanisms will benefit from a burgeoning of scanning probe microscopes and of their future combination with molecular biological experiments.
AB - Single molecule experiments provide insight into the individuality of biological macromolecules, their unique function, reaction pathways, trajectories and molecular interactions. The exceptional signal-to-noise ratio of the atomic force microscope allows individual proteins to be imaged under physiologically relevant conditions at a lateral resolution of 0.5-1nm and a vertical resolution of 0.1-0.2nm. Recently, it has become possible to observe single molecule events using this technique. This capability is reviewed on various water-soluble and membrane proteins. Examples of the observation of function, variability, and assembly of single proteins are discussed. Statistical analysis is important to extend conclusions derived from single molecule experiments to protein species. Such approaches allow the classification of protein conformations and movements. Recent developments of probe microscopy techniques allow simultaneous measurement of multiple signals on individual macromolecules, and greatly extend the range of experiments possible for probing biological systems at the molecular level. Biologists exploring molecular mechanisms will benefit from a burgeoning of scanning probe microscopes and of their future combination with molecular biological experiments.
KW - Conformation
KW - Single molecule force spectrometry
KW - Single molecule imaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036558631&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3
DO - 10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3
M3 - Review article
C2 - 12225775
AN - SCOPUS:0036558631
VL - 79
SP - 1
EP - 43
JO - Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
JF - Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
SN - 0079-6107
IS - 1-3
ER -