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The influence of device handles in single-molecule experiments
Luca Bellino1, Giuseppe Florio2, Giuseppe Puglisi3
1Politecnico di Bari, (DMMM) Dipartimento di Meccanica, Matematica e Management, Politecnico di Bari, Via Re David 200, 70125, Italy. luca.bellino@poliba.it giuseppe.florio@poliba.it.
Soft Matter
|October 18, 2019
Summary
This study introduces an analytical model for device handle artifacts in single molecule force spectroscopy. Ignoring handle stiffness can significantly miscalculate molecular stability and unfolding thresholds.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) is a powerful technique for probing molecular interactions.
- Artifacts in SMFS experiments can arise from various sources, including experimental setup and molecular constructs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a fully analytical model for predicting device handle artifacts in SMFS.
- To investigate the impact of neglecting handle stiffness on the interpretation of SMFS data.
Main Methods:
- Derivation of a comprehensive analytical model.
- Inclusion of device handle properties, specifically stiffness, into the model.
Main Results:
- The model accurately predicts artifacts introduced by device handles.
- Neglecting handle stiffness leads to significant overestimation or underestimation of molecular stability properties.
- Crucial errors in determining unfolding thresholds for multistable molecules are observed when handle stiffness is ignored.
Conclusions:
- The developed analytical model is essential for accurate interpretation of SMFS data.
- Accounting for handle stiffness is critical for reliable characterization of molecular stability and unfolding behavior.
- This work provides a framework for mitigating artifacts and improving the precision of SMFS experiments.
