Tracking a molecular motor with a nanoscale optical encoder.
Optical encoders are commonly used in macroscopic machines to make precise measurements of distance and velocity by translating motion into a periodic signal. Here we show how Forster resonance energy transfer can be used to implement this technique at the single-molecule scale. We incorporate a series of acceptor dye molecules into self-assembling DNA, and the periodic signal resulting from unhindered motion of a donor-labeled molecular motor provides nanometer-scale resolution in milliseconds.
Wickersham
Charles E
CE
Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
Cash
Kevin J
KJ
Pfeil
Shawn H
SH
Bruck
Irina
I
Kaplan
Daniel L
DL
Plaxco
Kevin W
KW
Lipman
Everett A
EA
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055096:Optical Devices; D010316:Particle Size; D014159:Transducers
D004247:DNA