Abstract

A novel measurement that might provide information on the secondary and tertiary structure of biomolecules is the disruption of the structure through the slow application of mechanical forces. The case of pulling apart the two strands of DNA and hence ~unzipping~ the helix has been analyzed by Thompson and Siggia, ~96 and estimates of the magnitudes of the relevant forces given. Recently we have examined the experimental possibilities of detecting such forces and concluded that with an advanced experimental apparatus the breaking of individual base pairs should be resolvable. The apparatus would include differential interferometric detection of the bending of an AFM cantilever and utilize a piezoelectric arm to separate the two strands.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Type
Biotechnology Resource Grants (P41)
Project #
5P41RR004224-09
Application #
5224727
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Publications

Migone, Fernando F; Cowan, Robert G; Williams, Rebecca M et al. (2016) In vivo imaging reveals an essential role of vasoconstriction in rupture of the ovarian follicle at ovulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:2294-9
O'Dell, Ryan S; Cameron, David A; Zipfel, Warren R et al. (2015) Reelin Prevents Apical Neurite Retraction during Terminal Translocation and Dendrite Initiation. J Neurosci 35:10659-74
Byrnes, Laura J; Singh, Avtar; Szeto, Kylan et al. (2013) Structural basis for conformational switching and GTP loading of the large G protein atlastin. EMBO J 32:369-84
Jain, Manu; Robinson, Brian D; Scherr, Douglas S et al. (2012) Multiphoton microscopy in the evaluation of human bladder biopsies. Arch Pathol Lab Med 136:517-26
Degala, Satish; Williams, Rebecca; Zipfel, Warren et al. (2012) Calcium signaling in response to fluid flow by chondrocytes in 3D alginate culture. J Orthop Res 30:793-9
O'Dell, Ryan S; Ustine, Candida J M; Cameron, David A et al. (2012) Layer 6 cortical neurons require Reelin-Dab1 signaling for cellular orientation, Golgi deployment, and directed neurite growth into the marginal zone. Neural Dev 7:25
McMullen, J D; Kwan, A C; Williams, R M et al. (2011) Enhancing collection efficiency in large field of view multiphoton microscopy. J Microsc 241:119-24
Kim, Sally A; Sanabria, Hugo; Digman, Michelle A et al. (2010) Quantifying translational mobility in neurons: comparison between current optical techniques. J Neurosci 30:16409-16
Bowles, Robby D; Williams, Rebecca M; Zipfel, Warren R et al. (2010) Self-assembly of aligned tissue-engineered annulus fibrosus and intervertebral disc composite via collagen gel contraction. Tissue Eng Part A 16:1339-48
McMullen, Jesse D; Zipfel, Warren R (2010) A multiphoton objective design with incorporated beam splitter for enhanced fluorescence collection. Opt Express 18:5390-8

Showing the most recent 10 out of 68 publications