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Characterizing the Biophysical Properties of Adhesive Proteins in Live Cells Using Single-Molecule Atomic Force Microscopy

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Mechanobiology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2600))

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Abstract

Cell adhesion proteins play essential roles in the formation, regeneration, and maintenance of tissue. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cells regulate the conformation and binding properties of adhesion proteins are poorly understood. These biophysical properties can be resolved, with single-molecule resolution, using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Here, we outline how AFM force measurements can be used to study the conformation, cytoskeletal linkage, binding strength, and force-dependent bond lifetimes of adhesion proteins in live cells.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (R01GM121885 and R01GM133880).

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Correspondence to Sanjeevi Sivasankar .

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© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

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Priest, A.V., Sivasankar, S. (2023). Characterizing the Biophysical Properties of Adhesive Proteins in Live Cells Using Single-Molecule Atomic Force Microscopy. In: Zaidel-Bar, R. (eds) Mechanobiology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2600. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2851-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2851-5_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-2850-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-2851-5

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