title: Tracking a molecular motor with a nanoscale optical encoder.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wickersham
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.forename: Shawn H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Pfeil
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bruck
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Plaxco
authors.forename: Everett A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lipman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004247:DNA