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 Experiment Videos

Direct visualization of dynamic protein-DNA interactions with a dedicated atomic force microscope

S J van Noort1, K O van der Werf, A P Eker

  • 1Department of Applied Physics, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. s.j.t.vannoort@tn.utwente.nl

Biophysical Journal
|June 23, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

[Outcome of the geriatric head and neck cancer patient].

HNO·2026
Same author

Exoscopic-assisted head and neck surgery: a comparative evaluation optimizing ergonomics and workflow.

Journal of robotic surgery·2025
Same author

[Typical emergencies in otorhinolaryngology-a monocentric analysis of the seasonal course].

HNO·2022
Same author

[Oncologic follow-up in head and neck cancer patients].

HNO·2022
Same author

Performance of microvascular anastomosis with a new robotic visualization system: proof of concept.

Journal of robotic surgery·2021
Same author

[Robotics in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery].

HNO·2021

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) visualizes DNA-protein interactions and DNA fragment annealing. This technique allows researchers to observe photolyase scanning DNA for damage, suggesting a sliding mechanism.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Direct visualization of DNA-protein interactions is crucial for understanding molecular mechanisms.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers high-resolution imaging capabilities for biological molecules.
  • Immobilizing DNA while maintaining its flexibility is key for studying protein binding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly visualize DNA interactions with proteins, specifically photolyase.
  • To observe the annealing of restriction fragment ends using AFM.
  • To demonstrate the potential of AFM for studying molecular biology under physiological conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM) for high-resolution imaging of DNA.
  • Employing Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) to immobilize DNA onto mica surfaces, allowing for loose binding.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Implementing instrumental improvements for routine visualization under physiological conditions with minimal noise.

    • Main Results:

    • Successfully visualized nonspecific photolyase-DNA complexes, including association, dissociation, and movement.
    • Observed photolyase movement over DNA, suggesting a sliding mechanism for scanning DNA.
    • Demonstrated reproducible imaging of DNA molecules for at least 30 minutes without visible damage.

    Conclusions:

    • AFM enables direct visualization of dynamic DNA-protein interactions at molecular resolution.
    • The observed photolyase sliding mechanism provides insights into DNA repair processes.
    • AFM is a powerful tool for advancing molecular biology research by enabling real-time observation of molecular events.