title: [Atomic force microscopy: from cell imaging to molecular manipulation].
abstract: The atomic force microscope (AFM) allows to explore the surface of biological samples bathed in physiological solutions, with vertical and horizontal resolutions ranging from nanometers to angströms. Complex biological structures as well as single molecules can be observed and recent examples of the possibilities offered by the AFM in the imaging of intact cells, isolated membranes, membrane model systems and single molecules 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, UMR 5048 CNRS, UMR554 INSERM, Université Montpellier I, 29, rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier Cedex, France. pem@cbs.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: Pierre-Emmanuel
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Milhiet
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dosset
authors.forename: Marie-Cécile
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Giocondi
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Grimellec
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D012241:Rhodopseudomonas / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002772:Cholera Toxin
vernacular_title: La microscopie à force atomique, une technique de pointe appliquée à la biologie.