Biomolecular reactions can be studied and controlled with unprecedented precision by applying mechanical force to a single molecule. In this study, we report the first observation of mechanically induced equilibrium fluctuations of single calmodulin molecules. The ligand-dependence of protein folding and unfolding kinetics becomes accessible in great detail. By applying force directly to peptide ligands, the association and dissociation of these ligands can be observed on the single molecule level. This work opens the door for future studies on protein folding, ligand binding and conformational changes by controlled manipulation of reaction kinetics under force.
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Biomolecular reactions can be studied and controlled with unprecedented precision by applying mechanical force to a single molecule. In this study, we report the first observation of mechanically induced equilibrium fluctuations of single calmodulin molecules. The ligand-dependence of protein folding and unfolding kinetics becomes accessible in great detail. By applying force directly to peptide ligands, the association and dissociation of these ligands can be observed on the single molecule lev...
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