Atomic force microscopy of the proteasome

The proteasome should be an ideal molecule for studies on large enzymatic complexes, given its multisubunit and modular structure, compartmentalized design, numerous activities, and its own means of regulation. Considering the recent increased interest in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, it is surprising that biophysical approaches to study this enzymatic assembly are applied with limited frequency. Methods including atomic force microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance, and high-pressure procedures all have gained popularity in characterization of the proteasome. These methods provide significant and often unexpected insight regarding the structure and function of the enzyme. This chapter describes the use of atomic force microscopy for dynamic structural studies of the proteasome.