Optical tweezers have become the method of choice in single-molecule manipulation
studies. In this Primer, we first review the physical principles of optical tweezers and the …

In the first part of the seventeenth century, the German astronomer Johannes Kepler
proposed that the reason comet tails point away from the sun is because they are pushed in …

Molecular recognition between complementary strands of DNA allows construction on a
nanometre length scale. For example, DNA tags may be used to organize the assembly of …

In biology, molecular linkages at, within, and beneath cell interfaces arise mainly from weak
noncovalent interactions. These bonds will fail under any level of pulling force if held for …

Do biological motors move with regular steps? To address this question, we constructed
instrumentation with the spatial and temporal sensitivity to resolve movement on a molecular …

A new in vitro assay using a feedback enhanced laser trap system allows direct
measurement of force and displacement that results from the interaction of a single myosin …

The techniques of optical trap** and manipulation of neutral particles by lasers provide
unique means to control the dynamics of small particles. These new experimental methods …

The adhesion force between the tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever derivatized with
avidin and agarose beads functionalized with biotin, desthiobiotin, or iminobiotin was …

We report the specific transduction, via surface stress changes, of DNA hybridization and
receptor-ligand binding into a direct nanomechanical response of microfabricated …

▪ Abstract On laboratory time scales, the energy landscape of a weak bond along a
dissociation pathway is fully explored through Brownian-thermal excitations, and energy …