Projects / Programmes
Biophysical processes studied with optical tweezers
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B002 |
Biomedical sciences |
Biophysics |
| B120 |
Biomedical sciences |
Molecular biophysics |
molecular motors, optical tweezers, proteins, myosin, cytoskeleton, actin, chemomechanical cycle, stepping kinetics, bead assays, motility assays, processivity.
Researchers (7)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Optical tweezers allow manipulation of beads of a few 100 nanometers in size, detection of their position with nanometric precision and application of forces in the order of piconewtons. This makes them an excellent tool for observation of biological processes on the level of single proteins. Within this project, we will use optical tweezers for studying the molecular motor myosin - the protein responsible for muscle contraction and intracellular transport - on the level of single molecules or small groups of coupled motors. Our experimental setup enables simultaneous positioning and detection of several beads, which is ideal for observing undisturbed motors. New feedback mechanisms for controlling the force on the protein as a function of its mechanical state will be introduced. We will be able to resolve different states in the duty cycle, predicted by theoretical models but not yet experimentally observed. With these experiments we will significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of the myosin working cycle and thus of effective conversion of chemical energy into mechanical work. We will improve the accuracy of mechanical and kinetic measurements and we expect to fill the present gap between macroscopic and microscopic measurements. Additionally, optical tweezers will be used for studying other biological systems, especially for microrheology of actin networks as a model system for the cytoskeleton.
