title: Stretching, unfolding, and deforming protein filaments adsorbed at solid-liquid interfaces using the tip of an atomic-force microscope.
abstract: Cells move by actively remodeling a dense network of protein filaments. Here we analyze the force response of various filaments in a simplified experimental setup, where single filaments are moved with an atomic-force microscope (AFM) tip against surface friction, with the AFM operating in the torsional mode. Our experimental findings are well explained within a simple model based on Newtonian mechanics: we observe force plateaus, which are the signature of the sequential stretching of single repeat units, followed ultimately by deformation of the whole polymer shape.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 3J5, Canada.
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Staple
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loparic
authors.forename: Hans Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kreuzer
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kreplak
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D003893:Desmin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008956:Models, Chemical; D017354:Point Mutation; D017510:Protein Folding; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D003893:Desmin; D003094:Collagen