Do-it-yourself guide: how to use the modern single-molecule toolkit.
Single-molecule microscopy has evolved into the ultimate-sensitivity toolkit to study systems from small molecules to living cells, with the prospect of revolutionizing the modern biosciences. Here we survey the current state of the art in single-molecule tools including fluorescence spectroscopy, tethered particle microscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers, and atomic force microscopy. We also provide guidelines for choosing the right approach from the available single-molecule toolkit for applications as diverse as structural biology, enzymology, nanotechnology and systems biology.
Walter
Nils G
NG
Department of Chemistry, Single Molecule Analysis Group, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. nwalter@umich.edu
Huang
Cheng-Yen
CY
Manzo
Anthony J
AJ
Sobhy
Mohamed A
MA
D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D015233:Models, Statistical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*