Studying biomechanics at the single-molecule level with optical tweezers

ORAL

Abstract

Lasers have found significant roles in today's world. One of their applications is trapping microscopic objects, which has helped scientists to understand mechanical processes involved in protein and DNA mechanics, structure, and interaction kinetics. We use the optical trapping technique to study mechanical properties of short proteins that play a vital role in providing structural support for the body. Elastin and collagen are two important structural proteins: we study their mechanical response to an applied force, and try to understand how it relates to their biological roles. The goals are to reveal how changes chemical compositions at the molecular scale affect mechanical properties, and relate these to macroscopic changes that can lead to serious and sometimes lethal diseases.

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Authors

  • Naghmeh Rezaei

    Simon Fraser University

  • Nancy Forde

    Simon Fraser University, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University

  • C. Andreoiu

    University of Washington, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Department of Physics, McMaster University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford University, IFW-Dresden, Northern Illinois University, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, Simon Fraser University, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Washington State University, The University of British Columbia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Aixtron Ltd., Cornell University, TRIUMF, Society of Physics Students, Western Washington University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Emory University, SFU, Arizona State University, Research Centre J\"ulich, University of Victoria, EPM, \'Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'eal (EPM), Technical U of Denmark, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, Linfield College, Portland State University, University of British Columbia Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Simon Fraser, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, McGill University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, University of Manitobia, Univ. of British Columbia and TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat and MPI and TRIUMF, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Univ. of Manitoba and TRIUMF, Tenische Universitaet Muenchen and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser Univ. and TRIUMF, University of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute, TRIUMF, Westf\"alische Wilhelms-Universit\"at, TRIUMF, Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Univerity of Manitoba, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, TRIUMF, TRIUMF \& University of Manitoba, College of William and Mary, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, University of Maryland, University of Manitoba, UBC, Texas A\&M, University of Kentucky, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Guelph, St. Mary's University