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.
Department of Chemistry, Single Molecule Analysis Group, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. nwalter@umich.edu
Nils G
NG
Walter
Cheng-Yen
CY
Huang
Anthony J
AJ
Manzo
Mohamed A
MA
Sobhy
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*