Title: Tractor beams and single molecules: How to visualize and manipulate single biomolecules in real-time

Abstract:

Imagine you could directly see the location and dynamics of individual proteins binding to a piece of single DNA. What if you could assemble your biological complex step by step and see it in action in real-time? What if you could manipulate the structure of your biomolecule and quickly change buffer conditions to test your experimental hypotheses? By using “molecular tractor beams”, the C-trap makes that a reality.

Essential biological processes performed by proteins interacting with DNA or cytoskeletal protofilaments are key to cell metabolism and life. In order to understand the molecular basis of life, as well as the pathological conditions that develop when processes go wrong, it is critical to get detailed insights into these processes at the molecular level. Not only at the highest resolution, but also in real time.

During this seminar, we will take you through an exciting journey of different research topics in which dynamic single molecule studies revealed remarkable insights. In each study, the C-Trap system was used; our easy-to-use platform that combines optical tweezers with fluorescence microscopy. We will explain how the ability to control, visualize and manipulate single molecules in real time, changes the way we answer tough scientific questions in the field of DNA processing, single-protein dynamics, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and beyond.