Ikai Atsushi, Afrin Rehana, Sekiguchi Hiroshi, Okajima Takaharu, Alam M T, Nishida Shuhei
Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta Midoriku, Yokohama, 226-8501, Japan.
Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2003 Jun;4(3):181-93. doi: 10.2174/1389203033487171.
The atomic force microscope has been extensively used not only to image nanometer-sized biological samples but also to measure their mechanical properties by using the force curve mode of the instrument. When the analysis based on the Hertz model of indentation is applied to the approach part of the force curve, one obtains information on the stiffness of the sample in terms of Young's modulus. Mapping of local stiffness over a single living cell is possible by this method. The retraction part of the force curve provides information on the adhesive interaction between the sample and the AFM tip. It is possible to functionalize the AFM tip with specific ligands so that one can target the adhesive interaction to specific pairs of ligands and receptors. The presence of specific receptors on the living cell surface has been mapped by this method. The force to break the co-operative 3D structure of globular proteins or to separate a double stranded DNA into single strands has been measured. Extension of the method for harvesting functional molecules from the cytosol or the cell surface for biochemical analysis has been reported. There is a need for the development of biochemical nano-analysis based on AFM technology.
原子力显微镜不仅被广泛用于对纳米级生物样本进行成像，还可通过使用仪器的力曲线模式来测量其机械性能。当基于赫兹压痕模型的分析应用于力曲线的接近部分时，可以根据杨氏模量获得有关样品刚度的信息。通过这种方法可以绘制单个活细胞上的局部刚度图。力曲线的回缩部分提供了有关样品与原子力显微镜探针之间粘附相互作用的信息。可以用特定配体对原子力显微镜探针进行功能化，以便能够将粘附相互作用靶向特定的配体和受体对。通过这种方法已经绘制了活细胞表面上特定受体的分布图。已经测量了破坏球状蛋白质的协同三维结构或将双链DNA分离成单链所需的力。据报道，该方法已扩展到从细胞质或细胞表面收集功能分子以进行生化分析。基于原子力显微镜技术的生化纳米分析有待发展。
