Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
Combining Single-molecule Manipulation and Imaging for the Study of Protein-DNA Interactions
Published on: August 27, 2014
Single-molecule imaging and manipulation of biomolecular machines and systems
Ryota Iino1, Tatsuya Iida1, Akihiko Nakamura1
1Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Japan; Department of Functional Molecular Science, School of Physical Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Japan.
Background:
Biological molecular machines support various activities and behaviors of cells, such as energy production, signal transduction, growth, differentiation, and migration.
Scope Of Review:
We provide an overview of single-molecule imaging methods involving both small and large probes used to monitor the dynamic motions of molecular machines in vitro (purified proteins) and in living cells, and single-molecule manipulation methods used to measure the forces, mechanical properties and responses of biomolecules. We also introduce several examples of single-molecule analysis, focusing primarily on motor proteins and signal transduction systems.
Major Conclusions:
Single-molecule analysis is a powerful approach to unveil the operational mechanisms both of individual molecular machines and of systems consisting of many molecular machines.
General Significance:
Quantitative, high-resolution single-molecule analyses of biomolecular systems at the various hierarchies of life will help to answer our fundamental question: "What is life?" This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Biophysical Exploration of Dynamical Ordering of Biomolecular Systems" edited by Dr. Koichi Kato.
