Dynamic changes in protein conformation are commonly tracked through the imaging of a photon flux, for example by single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET). Here, Choi et al. describe a technique to image single-molecule dynamics through the detection of changes in an electron flux. A T4 lysozyme molecule was conjugated to a carbon nanotube, which amplifies electrical signals. As the lysozyme is charged, its conformational changes during the binding and processing of its substrate were sensed as electrostatic changes. This approach allowed high-sensitivity dynamic imaging of both the catalytic and non-productive lysozyme conformational motions. With the advantages of high time resolution, lack of signal bleaching and fluorophore independence, this method can be used as complementary to smFRET to monitor charged molecules.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Choi, Y. et al. Single-molecule lysozyme dynamics monitored by an electronic circuit. Science 335, 319–324 (2012) Article
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Papatriantafyllou, M. Lysozyme gets wired. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 13, 138 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3299
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3299