High-speed atomic force microscopy: A structural and dynamic tool for visualizing single-molecule biological processes

Y.C. Lin
University of Texas at Austin,
United States

Keywords: high-speed atomic force microscopy, membrane protein dynamics, protein-nucleic acid interactions, structural biology

Summary:

High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) enables real-time visualization of biomolecular dynamics with sub-nanometer resolution. I will showcase its application in studying the mechanosensitive Piezo1 ion channel’s force-induced conformational changes and protein-nucleic acid interactions, including CTCF-mediated DNA loop extrusion. These advancements enhance our understanding of biomolecular processes and open new avenues for integrating experimental data with mathematical models in structural biology.