Abstract
The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in biological sciences due to its ability to perform imaging experiments at high resolution in a physiological environment, without special sample preparation such as fixation or staining. AFM is unique, in that it allows single molecule information of mechanical properties and molecular recognition to be gathered. This review sets out to identify methodological applications of AFM for characterization of fiber-forming proteins and peptides. The basics of AFM operation are detailed, with in-depth information for any life scientist to get a grasp on AFM capabilities. It also briefly describes antibody recognition imaging and mapping of nanomechanical properties on biological samples. Subsequently, examples of AFM application to fiber-forming natural proteins, and fiberforming synthetic peptides are given. Here, AFM is used primarily for structural characterization of fibers in combination with other techniques, such as circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. More recent developments in antibody recognition imaging to identify constituents of protein fibers formed in human disease are explored. This review, as a whole, seeks to encourage the life scientists dealing with protein aggregation phenomena to consider AFM as a part of their research toolkit, by highlighting the manifold capabilities of this technique.
Keywords: Atomic force microscopy, antibody-recognition imaging, protein aggregation, peptide fibers, AFM, CM, tapping mode, friction channel records, hydrophobic forces, cantilever deflection
Current Protein & Peptide Science
Title:Characterization of Fiber-Forming Peptides and Proteins by Means of Atomic Force Microscopy
Volume: 13 Issue: 3
Author(s): Rhiannon G. Creasey, Christopher T. Gibson and Nicolas H. Voelcker
Affiliation:
Keywords: Atomic force microscopy, antibody-recognition imaging, protein aggregation, peptide fibers, AFM, CM, tapping mode, friction channel records, hydrophobic forces, cantilever deflection
Abstract: The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in biological sciences due to its ability to perform imaging experiments at high resolution in a physiological environment, without special sample preparation such as fixation or staining. AFM is unique, in that it allows single molecule information of mechanical properties and molecular recognition to be gathered. This review sets out to identify methodological applications of AFM for characterization of fiber-forming proteins and peptides. The basics of AFM operation are detailed, with in-depth information for any life scientist to get a grasp on AFM capabilities. It also briefly describes antibody recognition imaging and mapping of nanomechanical properties on biological samples. Subsequently, examples of AFM application to fiber-forming natural proteins, and fiberforming synthetic peptides are given. Here, AFM is used primarily for structural characterization of fibers in combination with other techniques, such as circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. More recent developments in antibody recognition imaging to identify constituents of protein fibers formed in human disease are explored. This review, as a whole, seeks to encourage the life scientists dealing with protein aggregation phenomena to consider AFM as a part of their research toolkit, by highlighting the manifold capabilities of this technique.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
G. Creasey Rhiannon, T. Gibson Christopher and H. Voelcker Nicolas, Characterization of Fiber-Forming Peptides and Proteins by Means of Atomic Force Microscopy, Current Protein & Peptide Science 2012; 13 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920312800785058
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920312800785058 |
Print ISSN 1389-2037 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5550 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advancements in Proteomic and Peptidomic Approaches in Cancer Immunotherapy: Unveiling the Immune Microenvironment
The scope of this thematic issue centers on the integration of proteomic and peptidomic technologies into the field of cancer immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on exploring the tumor immune microenvironment. This issue aims to gather contributions that illustrate the application of these advanced methodologies in unveiling the complex interplay ...read more
Artificial Intelligence for Protein Research
Protein research, essential for understanding biological processes and creating therapeutics, faces challenges due to the intricate nature of protein structures and functions. Traditional methods are limited in exploring the vast protein sequence space efficiently. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer promising solutions by improving predictions and speeding up ...read more
Nutrition and Metabolism in Musculoskeletal Diseases
The musculoskeletal system consists mainly of cartilage, bone, muscles, tendons, connective tissue and ligaments. Balanced metabolism is of vital importance for the homeostasis of the musculoskeletal system. A series of musculoskeletal diseases (for example, sarcopenia, osteoporosis) are resulted from the dysregulated metabolism of the musculoskeletal system. Furthermore, metabolic diseases (such ...read more
Protein Folding, Aggregation and Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation
Protein folding, misfolding and aggregation remain one of the main problems of interdisciplinary science not only because many questions are still open, but also because they are important from the point of view of practical application. Protein aggregation and formation of fibrillar structures, for example, is a hallmark of a ...read more
Related Journals
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Vascular Targeting: A New Antitumor Activity
Drug Design Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Cholinergic Targets in Lung Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Microglial Integrity is Maintained by Erythropoietin Through Integration of Akt and Its Substrates of lycogen Synthase Kinase-3β, β-Catenin, and Nuclear Factor-κB
Current Neurovascular Research Endocannabinoid Signaling in Midbrain Dopamine Neurons: More than Physiology?
Current Neuropharmacology NAD Biosynthesis in Humans - Enzymes, Metabolites and Therapeutic Aspects
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry A New Investigational Perspective for Purines Against Glioblastoma Invasiveness
Current Drug Targets Small Molecules Activating TrkB Receptor for Treating a Variety of CNS Disorders
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Inhibition of Aurora A Kinase by Alisertib Induces Autophagy and Cell Cycle Arrest and Increases Chemosensitivity in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cells
Current Cancer Drug Targets Moving Beyond Tyrosine Hydroxylase to Define Dopaminergic Neurons for Use in Cell Replacement Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Is VEGF a Key Target of Cotinine and Other Potential Therapies Against Alzheimer Disease?
Current Alzheimer Research Emerging β-Amyloid Therapies for the Treatment of Alzheimers Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cerebral Arachidonate Cascade in Dementia: Alzheimers Disease and Vascular Dementia
Current Neuropharmacology Semaphorins and their Receptors in Stem and Cancer Cells
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cardiovascular Side Effects of New Antidepressants and Antipsychotics: New Drugs, old Concerns?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Targeting mTOR: Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of Resveratrol for Cancer Treatment
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Convection Enhanced Drug Delivery of Novel Therapeutic Agents to Malignant Brain Tumors
Current Drug Delivery Phosphoinositide-3-kinases as the Novel Therapeutic Targets for the Inflammatory Diseases: Current and Future Perspectives
Current Drug Targets Subject Index To Volume 7
Current Drug Targets Targets for Anti-metastatic Drug Development
Current Pharmaceutical Design Dental Stem Cell in Tooth Development and Advances of Adult Dental Stem Cell in Regenerative Therapies
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy