title: Imaging and manipulation of biological structures with the AFM.
abstract: Many biologists have dreamt of physically touching and manipulating the biomolecules they were investigating. With the invention of the atomic force microscope (AFM), this dream has come true. Here, recent applications of the AFM to image and to manipulate biological systems at the nanometer scale are reviewed. Macromolecular biological assemblies as well as individual biomolecules can be subjected to controlled nanomanipulation. Examples of AFM application in imaging and nanomanipulation include the extraction of chromosomal DNA for genetic analysis, the disruption of antibody--antigen bonds, the dissection of biological membranes, the nanodissection of protein complexes, and the controlled modulation of protein conformations. Also reviewed is the novel combination of single molecule imaging and force spectroscopy which allows biomolecules to be imaged, and inter- and intramolecular forces to be measured. Future application of these nanotechniques will reveal new information on the structure, function and assembly of biomolecules.
authors.affiliation: M. E. Müller Institute for Microscopy, Biozentrum of the University of Basel, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fotiadis
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scheuring
authors.forename: Shirley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001695:Biology / Q000379:methods*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002843:Chromatin; D010455:Peptides; D004247:DNA