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A nanomechanical interface to rapid single-molecule interactions

Author

Listed:
  • Mingdong Dong

    (The Rowland Institute at Harvard, Harvard University
    Present addresses: The Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Centre for DNA Nanotechnology (CDNA), Aarhus University, Aarhus C DK-8000, Denmark (M.D.); Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA (O.S.).)

  • Ozgur Sahin

    (The Rowland Institute at Harvard, Harvard University
    Present addresses: The Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Centre for DNA Nanotechnology (CDNA), Aarhus University, Aarhus C DK-8000, Denmark (M.D.); Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA (O.S.).)

Abstract

Single-molecule techniques provide opportunities for molecularly precise imaging, manipulation, assembly and biophysical studies. Owing to the kinetics of bond rupture processes, rapid single-molecule measurements can reveal novel bond rupture mechanisms, probe single-molecule events with short lifetimes and enhance the interaction forces supplied by single molecules. Rapid measurements will also increase throughput necessary for technological use of single-molecule techniques. Here we report a nanomechanical sensor that allows single-molecule force spectroscopy on the previously unexplored microsecond timescale. We probed bond lifetimes around 5 μs and observed significant enhancements in molecular interaction forces. Our loading-rate-dependent measurements provide experimental evidence for an additional energy barrier in the biotin–streptavidin complex. We also demonstrate quantitative mapping of rapid single-molecule interactions with high spatial resolution. This nanomechanical interface may allow studies of molecular processes with short lifetimes and development of novel biological imaging, single-molecule manipulation and assembly technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingdong Dong & Ozgur Sahin, 2011. "A nanomechanical interface to rapid single-molecule interactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-6, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1246
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1246
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