Reverse Engineering of an Affinity-Switchable Molecular Interaction Characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy

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• 作者：Dario Anselmetti ; Frank Wilco Bartels ; Anke Becker ; Bjö ; rn Decker ; Rainer Eckel ; Matthew McIntosh ; Jochen Mattay ; Patrik Plattner ; Robert Ros ; Christian Schä ; fer ; Norbert Sewald
• 刊名：Langmuir
• 出版年：2008
• 出版时间：February 19, 2008
• 年：2008
• 卷：24
• 期：4
• 页码：1365 - 1370
• 全文大小：370K
• 年卷期：v.24,no.4(February 19, 2008)
• ISSN：1520-5827

文摘

Tunable and switchable interaction between molecules is a key for regulation and control of cellular processes. Thetranslation of the underlying physicochemical principles to synthetic and switchable functional entities and moleculesthat can mimic the corresponding molecular functions is called reverse molecular engineering. We quantitativelyinvestigated autoinducer-regulated DNA-protein interaction in bacterial gene regulation processes with single atomicforce microscopy (AFM) molecule force spectroscopy in vitro, and developed an artificial bistable molecular host-guest system that can be controlled and regulated by external signals (UV light exposure and thermal energy). Theintermolecular binding functionality (affinity) and its reproducible and reversible switching has been proven by AFMforce spectroscopy at the single-molecule level. This affinity-tunable optomechanical switch will allow novel applicationswith respect to molecular manipulation, nanoscale rewritable molecular memories, and/or artificial ion channels, whichwill serve for the controlled transport and release of ions and neutral compounds in the future.