Optical Tweezers Methods and Protocols
The aim of this volume is to provide a comprehensive overview of optical tweezers setups, both in practical and theoretical terms, to help biophysicists, biochemists, and cell biologists to build and calibrate their own instruments and to perform force me
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Arne Gennerich Editor
Optical Tweezers Methods and Protocols
METHODS
IN
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Series Editor John M. Walker School of Life and Medical Sciences University of Hertfordshire Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, UK
For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/7651
Optical Tweezers Methods and Protocols
Edited by
Arne Gennerich Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology & Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY, USA
Editor Arne Gennerich Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology & Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine Bronx, NY, USA
ISSN 1064-3745 ISSN 1940-6029 (electronic) Methods in Molecular Biology ISBN 978-1-4939-6419-2 ISBN 978-1-4939-6421-5 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-4939-6421-5 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016952805 © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Humana Press imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer Science+Business Media LLC New York
Preface Numerous biological processes are dependent on the minute forces and displacements generated by enzymes capable of converting chemical energy into mechanical motion. For example, DNA and RNA polymerases generate forces during DNA synthesis and transcription, while the microtubule motors kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein generate forces that regulate spindle and chromosome positioning during mitosis. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of these mechanoenzymes has fascinated scientists for more than 150 years since the discovery of muscle myosin. However, it was the invention of optical tweezers in 1986 by Arthur Ashkin that gave researchers the ability to investigate the force-generating molecular mechanisms of single mechanoenzymes. Optical tweezers, which can measure forces of 0.01 to ~1000 pN, have been invaluable in defining the forces and displacements that these biological nanomachines ge
