Li Guangyong, Xi Ning, Wang Donna H
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
J Cell Biochem. 2006 Apr 15;97(6):1191-7. doi: 10.1002/jcb.20753.
To gain insights into how biological molecules function, advanced technologies enabling imaging, sensing, and actuating single molecules are required. The atomic force microscope (AFM) would be one of novel potential tools for these tasks. In this study, techniques and efforts using AFM to probe biomolecules are introduced and reviewed. The state-of-art techniques for characterizing specific single receptor using the functionalized AFM tip are discussed. An example of studying the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors expressed in sensory neuronal cells by AFM with a functionalized tip is given. Perspectives for identifying and characterizing specific individual membrane proteins using AFM in living cells are provided. Given that many diseases have their roots at the molecular scale and are best understood as a malfunctioning biological nanomachines, the prospects of these unique techniques in basic biomedical research or in clinical practice are beyond our imagination.
为深入了解生物分子的功能，需要能够对单分子进行成像、传感和驱动的先进技术。原子力显微镜（AFM）可能是用于这些任务的新型潜在工具之一。在本研究中，介绍并综述了使用AFM探测生物分子的技术和成果。讨论了使用功能化AFM探针表征特定单受体的最新技术。给出了一个通过功能化探针的AFM研究感觉神经元细胞中表达的血管紧张素II 1型（AT1）受体的例子。提供了在活细胞中使用AFM识别和表征特定单个膜蛋白的前景展望。鉴于许多疾病都源于分子尺度，并且最好理解为生物纳米机器的故障，这些独特技术在基础生物医学研究或临床实践中的前景超乎想象。
