Cite as: Cold Spring Harb. Protoc.; 2009; doi:10.1101/pdb.top60

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topic_introductionTopic Introduction

High-Resolution Dual-Trap Optical Tweezers with Differential Detection: An Introduction

Carlos Bustamante, Yann R. Chemla, and Jeffrey R. Moffitt

Adapted from Single-Molecule Techniques (eds. Selvin and Ha). CSHL Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA, 2008.


INTRODUCTION

Optical traps or "optical tweezers" have become an indispensable tool in understanding fundamental biological processes. The ability to manipulate and probe individual molecules or molecular complexes has led to a new, more refined understanding of the mechanical properties of the fundamental building blocks of the cell, and of the mechanism by which molecular machines function. The field has seen a steady stream of technological advances that have greatly refined the technique. One major effort has been in developing methods to resolve motions at the angstrom level--the fundamental length scale for many biological processes. This drive has only recently come to fruition with the advent of high-resolution optical trapping techniques that can now detect movements on the scale of a single base pair of DNA, 3.4 Å. Here we briefly review the basic concepts and components of optical traps and the single-molecule experiments in which they are used.


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This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Cold Spring Harb ProtocHome page
C. Bustamante, Y. R. Chemla, and J. R. Moffitt
High-Resolution Dual-Trap Optical Tweezers with Differential Detection: Managing Environmental Noise
Cold Spring Harb Protoc, October 1, 2009; 2009(10): 10.1101/pdb.ip72.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Cold Spring Harb ProtocHome page
C. Bustamante, Y. R. Chemla, and J. R. Moffitt
High-Resolution Dual-Trap Optical Tweezers with Differential Detection: Instrument Design
Cold Spring Harb Protoc, October 1, 2009; 2009(10): 10.1101/pdb.ip73.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

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 Cold Spring Harb ProtocHome page
C. Bustamante, Y. R. Chemla, and J. R. Moffitt
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[Abstract] [Full Text]

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 Cold Spring Harb ProtocHome page
C. Bustamante, Y. R. Chemla, and J. R. Moffitt
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[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Cold Spring Harb ProtocHome page
C. Bustamante, Y. R. Chemla, and J. R. Moffitt
High-Resolution Dual-Trap Optical Tweezers with Differential Detection: Alignment of Instrument Components
Cold Spring Harb Protoc, October 1, 2009; 2009(10): 10.1101/pdb.ip76.
[Abstract] [Full Text]