Nanoscale biophysics articles from across Nature Portfolio

β-actin and γ-actin are nearly identical, and yet incorporate into different cytoskeletal structures. Here, the authors create isoform-pure reconstituted networks and study their structural and mechanical differences, underscoring the significance of the isoforms in diverse cellular functions.

Understanding the topological arrangement and transition dynamics of mesoscale assemblies is complicated by their molecular complexity. Here, the authors use DNA origami nanosprings to show that mesoscale helical handedness is dictated by backbone torque rather than achiral orientation.

Filaments of the FtsZ protein can form chiral assemblies. Now, active matter tools link the microscopic structure of active filaments to the large-scale collective phase of these assemblies.

A DNA-based nanorobotic arm connected to a base plate through a flexible joint can be used to store and release mechanical energy. The joint acts as a torsion spring that is wound up by rotating the arm using external electric fields and is released using a high-frequency electrical pulse.

Sequencing of proteins is a technically difficult task that typically requires digestion into short peptides before detection and identification. We developed a digestion-free method to chemically unfold and ‘scan’ full-length proteins through a nanopore, producing electrical fingerprints unique to individual protein molecules that are useful in their identification.

A paper in Physical Review Letters shows how algae cells collectively form different patterns in response to light.

A paper in Nature Physics shows how the collective chiral motion of malaria single-cell organisms in mosquito saliva is driven by their physical properties

A paper in Science Advances shows how the transition of bacteria cells from collective active swarms to biofilms is driven by both biological and physical mechanisms.