[Optical tweezers in biology and medicine].
Optical trapping techniques provide unique means to manipulate biological particles such as virus, living cells and subcellular organelles. Another area of interest is the measurement of mechanical (elastic) properties of cell membranes, long strands of single DNA molecule, and filamentous proteins. One of the most attractive applications is the study of single motor molecules. With optical tweezers traps, one can measure the forces generated by single motor molecules such as kinesin and myosin, in the piconewton range and, for the first time, resolve their detailed stepping motion.
Coirault
Catherine
C
Inserm-Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée-Ensta-Ecole Polytechnique, Centre de l'Yvette, 91761 Palaiseau, France. coirault@enstay.ensta.fr
Pourny
Jean-Claude
JC
Lambert
Francine
F
Lecarpentier
Yves
Y
D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D004247:DNA; D006801:Humans; D016547:Kinesins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009218:Myosins / Q000494:pharmacology; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D015388:Organelles / Q000502:physiology*; D014780:Viruses
D004247:DNA; D009218:Myosins; D016547:Kinesins