Event Information
Probing Multivalency in Ligand Binding Using Atomic Force Microscopy
- Abstract:
Most biological processes are controlled by non-covalent interactions in aqueous solution. Our understanding of these associations, however, is nearly non-existant. To further explore association in an aqueous milieu, we have used the atomic force microscope (AFM) to study recognition events at the single molecule level. In order to obtain interpretable information about the ligand-receptor pair of interest, it is important to develop robust experimental methodologies that report on a well defined group of interactions. Here, the effect of both contact force and dwell time was investigated on unbinding events of a specific galectin 3-lactose system and a non-specific control, 2 -keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase-lactose system. Increasing the applied contact force resulted in an increase in both the probability of observing a rupture and the number of rupture events per pull for both specific and non-specific systems. Additionally, increasing dwell time resulted in an increase in binding probability for the specific but not the non-specific system.
Preliminary Examination Seminar
Student Exams Seminar