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Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

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Microfluidic Mixers for Studying Protein Folding

Microfluidic Mixers for Studying Protein Folding

Published on: April 10, 2012

Ultrafast cooling reveals microsecond-scale biomolecular dynamics.

Mark E Polinkovsky¹, Yann Gambin², Priya R Banerjee²

¹Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.

Nature Communications

|December 18, 2014

Summary

We developed a new, affordable temperature-jump method using lasers to rapidly heat and cool samples. This technique reveals fast folding dynamics in DNA hairpins, offering insights into molecular behavior.

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Submillisecond Conformational Changes in Proteins Resolved by Photothermal Beam Deflection

Submillisecond Conformational Changes in Proteins Resolved by Photothermal Beam Deflection

Published on: February 18, 2014

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Molecular Dynamics
Laser Spectroscopy

Background:

Temperature-jump (T-jump) techniques are crucial for studying rapid molecular dynamics like protein and nucleic acid folding.
Existing T-jump methods often require complex, costly equipment and achieve limited temperature changes (~10-15 °C), with rapid heating but slow cooling.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a more accessible and efficient temperature-jump setup for probing fast molecular dynamics.
To investigate the folding and unfolding dynamics of DNA hairpins using rapid heating and cooling cycles.

Main Methods:

A novel setup utilizing a sapphire substrate with nano-coating, a microfluidic device, and a switchable infrared laser.
Focused laser irradiation on the nano-coating induces rapid (~1-μs timescale) heating and cooling of aqueous solutions by ~50 °C.
Application to study DNA hairpin folding/unfolding dynamics via direct and inverse temperature jumps.

Main Results:

Achieved significant temperature changes (~50 °C) on a microsecond timescale for both heating and cooling.
Successfully probed the folding and unfolding dynamics of DNA hairpins.
Observed low-pass filter behavior in DNA hairpins during periodic temperature variations.

Conclusions:

The presented T-jump setup offers a cost-effective and rapid method for studying fast molecular dynamics.
This technique provides new insights into the kinetic behavior of DNA hairpins and their response to temperature fluctuations.
The findings highlight the potential of this setup for broader applications in biophysical studies.