{"title":"Construction and operation of high-resolution magnetic tape head tweezers for measuring single-protein dynamics under force.","authors":"Rafael Tapia-Rojo","doi":"10.1016/bs.mie.2023.12.010","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mechanical forces are critical to protein function across many biological contexts-from bacterial adhesion to muscle mechanics and mechanotransduction processes. Hence, understanding how mechanical forces govern protein activity has developed into a central scientific question. In this context, single-molecule magnetic tweezers has recently emerged as a valuable experimental tool, offering the capability to measure single proteins over physiologically relevant forces and timescales. In this chapter, we present a detailed protocol for the assembly and operation of our magnetic tape head tweezers instrument, specifically tailored to investigate protein dynamics. Our instrument boasts a simplified microscope design and incorporates a magnetic tape head as the force-generating apparatus, facilitating precise force control and enhancing its temporal stability, enabling the study of single protein mechanics over extended timescales spanning several hours or even days. Moreover, its straightforward and cost-effective design ensures its accessibility to the wider scientific community. We anticipate that this technique will attract widespread interest within the growing field of mechanobiology and expect that this chapter will provide facilitated accessibility to this technology.</p>","PeriodicalId":18662,"journal":{"name":"Methods in enzymology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Methods in enzymology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mie.2023.12.010","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/2/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Mechanical forces are critical to protein function across many biological contexts-from bacterial adhesion to muscle mechanics and mechanotransduction processes. Hence, understanding how mechanical forces govern protein activity has developed into a central scientific question. In this context, single-molecule magnetic tweezers has recently emerged as a valuable experimental tool, offering the capability to measure single proteins over physiologically relevant forces and timescales. In this chapter, we present a detailed protocol for the assembly and operation of our magnetic tape head tweezers instrument, specifically tailored to investigate protein dynamics. Our instrument boasts a simplified microscope design and incorporates a magnetic tape head as the force-generating apparatus, facilitating precise force control and enhancing its temporal stability, enabling the study of single protein mechanics over extended timescales spanning several hours or even days. Moreover, its straightforward and cost-effective design ensures its accessibility to the wider scientific community. We anticipate that this technique will attract widespread interest within the growing field of mechanobiology and expect that this chapter will provide facilitated accessibility to this technology.
期刊介绍:
The critically acclaimed laboratory standard for almost 50 years, Methods in Enzymology is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. Each volume is eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike. Now with over 500 volumes the series contains much material still relevant today and is truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences, including microbiology, biochemistry, cancer research and genetics-just to name a few. Five of the 2013 Nobel Laureates have edited or contributed to volumes of MIE.