Using single-molecule manipulation to probe the dynamics of protein and DNA molecules

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Professor Ching-Hwa Kiang (Department of Physics & Astronomy, Rice University)
• Tuesday 02 June 2009, 14:30-15:30
• Unilever Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr Mark Miller.

This talk has been canceled/deleted

Single-molecule manipulation of biological molecules opens a new door for a close-up investigation of the complex biological interactions. Nanomanipulation tools such as atomic force microscope and optical tweezers are used to pull single molecules while monitoring their force response. Using the recently derived nonequilibrium work theorem, i.e., Jarzynski’s equality, we were able to determine the equilibrium properties from these nonequilibrium measurements results. I will describe the free energy reconstruction and velocity dependence of titin I27 stretching and unfolding using Jarzynski’s equality. The results and implication of properties determined by mechanical manipulation of single-molecules will be discussed. Finally, I will present single-molecule studies of biological systems such as mechanical melting of DNA and protein folding, and discuss the implications and challenges as well as the significance of single-molecule manipulation in biological functions.

This talk is part of the Theoretical Chemistry Informal Seminars series.

This talk is included in these lists:

This talk is not included in any other list

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.