During the last three decades, a series of key technological improvements turned atomic
force microscopy (AFM) into a nanoscopic laboratory to directly observe and chemically …

Single-molecule force spectroscopy with the atomic force microscope provides molecular
level insights into protein function, allowing researchers to reconstruct energy landscapes …

YAP is a mechanosensitive transcriptional activator with a critical role in cancer,
regeneration, and organ size control. Here, we show that force applied to the nucleus …

The giant elastic protein titin is a determinant factor in how much blood fills the left ventricle
during diastole and thus in the etiology of heart disease. Titin has been identified as a target …

Under physiological conditions, protein oxidation and misfolding occur with very low
probability and on long times scales. Single-molecule techniques provide the ability to …

Due to the dynamic nature of ester linkages, ester-bond-containing materials are well known
for their outstanding degradability and stimuli responsiveness. However, whether ester …

One of the most exciting developments in the field of biological physics in recent years is the
ability to manipulate single molecules and probe their properties and function. Since its …

The mechanical stability of force-bearing proteins is crucial for their functions. However, slow
transition rates of complex protein domains have made it challenging to investigate their …

The cell membrane is one of the most complicated biological complexes, and long-term
fierce debates regarding the cell membrane persist because of technical hurdles. With the …

The response of titin to mechanical forces is a major determinant of the function of the heart.
When placed under a pulling force, the unstructured regions of titin uncoil while its …