Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 28: Single Molecule Probes

AKB 28.3: Talk

Friday, March 31, 2006, 12:30–12:45, ZEU 255

A Combined Setup for Single Molecule Manipulation and Optical Spectroscopy — •Volker Walhorn, Rainer Eckel, Christoph Pelargus, Joerg Martini, Dario Anselmetti, and Robert Ros — Experimental Biophysics, Physics Department, Bielefeld University, Germany

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as fluorescence microscopy (FM) are both intensively used techniques to elucidate interactions, dynamics and structures of single biomolecules. Synchronous fluorescence- and atomic force microscopy allow diverse new approaches in single molecule techniques. We present our novel setup capable of simultaneously performing total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) and atomic force microscopy/spectroscopy. For topographical or force readout a home-built AFM head is mounted on an inverted optical microscope equipped with a TIRFM objective, significantly reducing background noise. Spectral information is obtained by excitation with an Ar+ laser and fluorescence detection with a high speed CCD camera. Temporal and spatial correlation of topographical, force and fluorescence data can yield important information of the dynamics and molecular mechanisms of guest-host-interactions as well as protein folding pathways.