title: [Atomic force microscopy: from cellular imaging to molecular manipulation].
abstract: Using a sharp tip attached at the end of a soft cantilever as a probe, the atomic force microscope (AFM) explores the surface topography of biological samples bathed in physiological solutions. In the last few years, the AFM has gained popularity among biologists. This has been obtained through the improvement of the equipment and imaging techniques as well as through the development of new non-imaging applications. Biological imaging has to face a main difficulty that is the softness and the dynamics of most biological materials. Progress in understanding the AFM tip-biological samples interactions provided spectacular results in different biological fields. Recent examples of the possibilities offered by the AFM in the imaging of intact cells, isolated membranes, membrane model systems and single molecules at work are discussed in this review. Applications where the AFM tip is used as a nanotool to manipulate biomolecules and to determine intra- and intermolecular forces from single molecules are also presented.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Biochimie Structurale, Cnrs UMR 5048, Université Montpellier 1, Inserum U.554, 29, rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Cécile
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giocondi
authors.forename: Pierre Emmanuel
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Milhiet
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lesniewska
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Grimellec
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002477:Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004867:Equipment Design; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008566:Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011506:Proteins / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA