title: Mapping Mechanical Force Propagation through Biomolecular Complexes.
abstract: Here we employ single-molecule force spectroscopy with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to reveal force propagation pathways through a mechanically ultrastable multidomain cellulosome protein complex. We demonstrate a new combination of network-based correlation analysis supported by AFM directional pulling experiments, which allowed us to visualize stiff paths through the protein complex along which force is transmitted. The results implicate specific force-propagation routes nonparallel to the pulling axis that are advantageous for achieving high dissociation forces.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , 80799 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoeler
authors.affiliation: Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Rafael C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , 80799 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Klara H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Malinowska
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , 80799 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ellis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Durner
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , 80799 Munich, Germany.|Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), University of Munich , 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science , Rehovot 76100, Israel.
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.affiliation: Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.|Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schulten
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , 80799 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik and Center for Nanoscience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität , 80799 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gaub
mesh_terms: D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Force propagation; cohesin−dockerin; network analysis; single molecule force spectroscopy; steered molecular dynamics