Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Atomic Force Microscopy01:08

Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a type of scanning probe microscopy that can analyze topographic details of various specimens like ceramics, glass, polymers, and biological samples. AFM offers over 1000 times more resolution than the optical imaging system. Images generated from AFM are three-dimensional surface profiles, offering an advantage over the flat, two-dimensional images from other imaging techniques.
The AFM Probe
The probe is regarded as the heart of any AFM setup and comprises the...
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
Mechanical Protein Functions01:58

Mechanical Protein Functions

Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force. 

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evidence from computational infrared spectroscopy against vibrational detection of propionate by human olfactory receptor OR51E2.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2026
Same author

Nanoluc oligoproteins as a model system for protein misfolding and refolding studies.

Biophysical journal·2025
Same author

Denaturation of firefly luciferase at heat shock temperatures captured in silico.

Biophysical journal·2025
Same author

Tandem repeats of highly bioluminescent NanoLuc are refolded noncanonically by the Hsp70 machinery.

Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society·2024
Same author

Ligand-Mediated Mechanical Enhancement in Protein Complexes at Nano- and Macro-Scale.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2023
Same author

Special Issue: 18th Congress of the Polish Biophysical Society.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope
06:45

Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope

Published on: February 28, 2019

Measuring protein mechanics by atomic force microscopy.

Mahir Rabbi1, Piotr E Marszalek

  • 1Center for Biologically Inspired Materials and Material Systems, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

CSH Protocols
|March 2, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Investigating protein mechanics using atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals insights into molecular elasticity and unfolding. This single-molecule force spectroscopy technique provides data unobtainable by traditional biophysical methods.

More Related Videos

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy
08:41

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: June 27, 2013

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid
08:58

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid

Published on: December 2, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope
06:45

Force Spectroscopy of Single Protein Molecules Using an Atomic Force Microscope

Published on: February 28, 2019

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy
08:41

Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Living Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: June 27, 2013

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid
08:58

Atomic Force Microscopy Cantilever-Based Nanoindentation: Mechanical Property Measurements at the Nanoscale in Air and Fluid

Published on: December 2, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Materials Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Proteins experience mechanical forces in vivo, influencing biological activities.
  • Understanding protein mechanical properties is crucial for biological research.
  • Traditional biophysical methods have limitations in probing single-molecule mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for single-protein mechanical measurements.
  • To characterize protein entropic elasticity and persistence length.
  • To investigate protein mechanical strength, unfolding, and refolding properties.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a force spectrometer.
  • Employing single-protein force spectroscopy under a constant extension rate.
  • Fitting the worm-like chain (WLC) model to force-extension curves.

Main Results:

  • AFM enables direct measurement of individual protein mechanical properties.
  • Characterization of entropic elasticity and persistence length is achievable.
  • Data on mechanical unfolding/refolding rates and transition states can be obtained.

Conclusions:

  • Single-protein force spectroscopy with AFM offers unique insights into protein mechanics.
  • This technique complements traditional biophysical methods.
  • AFM provides a powerful tool for studying protein mechanical behavior.