This handbook describes experimental techniques to monitor and manipulate individual biomolecules, including fluorescence detection, atomic force microscopy, and optical and magnetic trapping. It includes single-molecule studies of physical properties of biomolecules such as folding, polymer physics of protein and DNA, enzymology and biochemistry, single molecules in the membrane, and single-molecule techniques in living cells.

This book is aimed at providing a practical introduction to single molecule fluorescence experiments, the analysis of the data, and applications of the techniques to the study of biological structure and function. The techniques have wide applications in biology, and underpin some aspects of nanotechnology and quantum information processing.

Providing much-needed information on fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy, this ready reference covers detection techniques, data registration, and the use of spectroscopic tools, as well as new techniques for improving the resolution of optical microscopy below the resolution gap. Starting with the basic principles, the book goes on to treat fluorophores and labeling, single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and enzymatics, as well as excited state energy transfer, and super-resolution fluorescence imaging. Examples show how each technique can help in obtaining detailed and refined information from individual molecular systems.

Dyneins are molecular motors that are involved in various cellular processes, such as cilia and flagella motility, vesicular transport, and mitosis. Since the first edition of this book was published in 2012, there has been a significant breakthrough: the crystal structures of the motor domains of cytoplasmic dynein have been solved and the previously unknown details of this huge and complex molecule have been unveiled. This new edition contains 14 chapters written by researchers in the US, Europe, and Asia, including 3 new chapters that incorporate new fields. The other chapters have also been substantially updated. Compared with the earlier edition, this book focuses more on the motile mechanisms of dynein, especially by biophysical methods such as cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and single-molecule nanometry. It is a major handbook for frontline researchers as well as for advanced students studying cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology.

This book gives an accessible, detailed overview on techniques of single molecule biophysics (SMB), showing how they are applied to numerous biological problems associated with understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription, and translation, as well as functioning of molecular machines. It covers major single molecule imaging and probing techniques, highlighting key strengths and limitations of each method using recent examples. The chapters begin with a discussion of single molecule fluorescence techniques followed by an overview of the atomic force microscope and its use for direct time-lapse visualization of dynamics of molecular complexes at the nanoscale, as well as applications in measurements of interactions between molecules and mechanical properties of isolated molecules and their complexes. The next chapters address magnetic tweezers and optical tweezers, including instrumentation, fundamentals of operation, and applications. A final chapter turns to nanopore transport and nanopore-based DNA sequencing technology that will play a major role in next-generation genomics and healthcare applications.

This handbook and reference condenses the biophysics and biomedical contents of the renowned Encyclopedia of Applied Physics in one handy volume. Twenty-eight carefully written overview articles cover the latest research, including single molecule spectroscopy, biosensors and cellular biomechanics. Readers benefit from concise summaries of the fundamentals, methods and applications, backed by detailed tables of contents for quick access, and glossaries of terms, as well as detailed lists of references and further reading. For libraries and R&D teams in academia and industry.

Geared towards research scientists in structural and molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, this manual will be useful to all who are interested in observing, manipulating and elucidating the molecular mechanisms and discrete properties of macromolecules.