NanoScope Software Tools for Force Spectroscopy Data Analysis (AN97)

The atomic force microscope (AFM) offers extraordinarily high resolution in force measurement applications, routinely yielding useful data down to the thermal noise floor of the cantilever, typically about 10pN. This along with the ease with which it is applied to many biological systems has made it a popular tool for studying such things as the specific interactions between biomolecules, the forces required to stretch polymeric molecules, and the forces that stabilize proteins. These sorts of applications have come to be collectively referred to as "force spectroscopy" applications.

Among these applications, those looking at the unfolding and refolding of single protein molecules are especially interesting. Significant inroads have been made in understanding how the primary structure of proteins contributes to their secondary and tertiary (folded) structures and how the proteins carry out their many functions. These measurements have complimented the many theoretical efforts to understand the details behind protein structure and function.