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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Combining Single-molecule Manipulation and Imaging for the Study of Protein-DNA Interactions
14:43

Combining Single-molecule Manipulation and Imaging for the Study of Protein-DNA Interactions

Published on: August 27, 2014

Precision surface-coupled optical-trapping assay with one-basepair resolution.

Ashley R Carter1, Yeonee Seol, Thomas T Perkins

  • 1JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Biophysical Journal
|April 8, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This study enhances surface-coupled optical trapping by minimizing surface motion and laser noise, achieving near-atomic resolution for detecting DNA basepair steps and improving force precision for molecular studies.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Nanotechnology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Surface-coupled optical trapping is widely used but limited by surface drift, hindering atomic-scale spatial resolution.
  • Existing methods struggle to achieve high precision due to surface motion and laser noise.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To improve spatial resolution and force precision in surface-coupled optical-trapping assays.
  • To enable detection of single basepair steps in DNA and resolve subtle force-induced dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Implemented active stabilization techniques to minimize surface motion to 0.1 nm in 3D.
  • Reduced various types of optical trap laser noise (pointing, intensity, mode, polarization).
  • Achieved high bead detection resolution (<0.05 nm) across a range of trap stiffness and frequencies.

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Optical Trapping of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Characterizations
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Optical Trapping of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Characterizations

Published on: June 23, 2022

Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles
13:39

Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles

Published on: January 15, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Combining Single-molecule Manipulation and Imaging for the Study of Protein-DNA Interactions
14:43

Combining Single-molecule Manipulation and Imaging for the Study of Protein-DNA Interactions

Published on: August 27, 2014

Optical Trapping of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Characterizations
06:19

Optical Trapping of Plasmonic Nanoparticles for In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Characterizations

Published on: June 23, 2022

Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles
13:39

Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles

Published on: January 15, 2013

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated sensitivity to one-basepair (0.34 nm) DNA steps at 6 pN force.
  • Achieved immediate basepair stability following significant force changes (3.4 pN).
  • Enhanced force precision to ~0.01%, resolving 0.1-pN force-induced DNA hairpin unfolding changes.

Conclusions:

  • Active stabilization brings atomic-scale resolution and enhanced force precision to surface-coupled optical trapping.
  • This advancement benefits studies of molecular mechanics, DNA dynamics, and protein-nucleic acid interactions.