Comment on “Sub-Angstrom Conformational Changes of a Single Molecule Captured by AFM Variance Analysis”

Staple et al comments on the study by Walther et al that had presented an excellent data on the force-extension curve and on length and force fluctuations for a single Dextran molecule using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). These measurements were done in the constant-velocity mode, in which the b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biophysical journal 2008-07, Vol.95 (2), p.1001-1002
Main Authors: Staple, Douglas B., Hanke, Felix, Kreuzer, Hans Jürgen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis of Variance
Atoms & subatomic particles
Comment to the Editor
Computer Simulation
Dextrans - analysis
Dextrans - chemistry
Elasticity
Microchemistry - methods
Microscopes
Microscopy, Atomic Force - methods
Models, Chemical
Models, Molecular
Molecular Conformation
Molecules
Stress, Mechanical
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Summary:Staple et al comments on the study by Walther et al that had presented an excellent data on the force-extension curve and on length and force fluctuations for a single Dextran molecule using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). These measurements were done in the constant-velocity mode, in which the base of the cantilever is moved at a constant speed, so that its distance from the substrate is the macroscopically controlled variable, D = vt. However, they stress that the experimentally observed molecular fluctuations showed quite clearly that this is not the case for the setup used in their experiment. Intrigued by the inadequacy of the Gibbs ensemble for such a force-ramp experiment, they have reinvestigated this situation and would like to add a theoretical clarification to the experimental findings.
ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1529/biophysj.108.129320