Collecting single molecules with conventional optical tweezers. 2007

Wolfgang Singer, and Timo A Nieminen, and Norman R Heckenberg, and Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop
Centre for Biophotonics and Laser Science, Department of Physics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. singer@physics.uq.edu.au

The size of particles that can be trapped in optical tweezers ranges from tens of nanometers to tens of micrometers. This size regime also includes large single molecules. Here we present experiments demonstrating that optical tweezers can be used to collect polyethylene oxide molecules suspended in water. The molecules that accumulate in the focal volume do not aggregate and therefore represent a region of increased molecule concentration, which can be controlled by the trapping potential. We also present a model that relates the change in concentration to the trapping potential. Since many protein molecules have molecular weights for which this method is applicable the effect may be useful in assisting nucleation of protein crystals.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007834 Lasers An optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is brought about using devices that transform light of varying frequencies into a single intense, nearly nondivergent beam of monochromatic radiation. Lasers operate in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray regions of the spectrum. Masers,Continuous Wave Lasers,Pulsed Lasers,Q-Switched Lasers,Continuous Wave Laser,Laser,Laser, Continuous Wave,Laser, Pulsed,Laser, Q-Switched,Lasers, Continuous Wave,Lasers, Pulsed,Lasers, Q-Switched,Maser,Pulsed Laser,Q Switched Lasers,Q-Switched Laser
D008846 Micromanipulation The performance of dissections, injections, surgery, etc., by the use of micromanipulators (attachments to a microscope) that manipulate tiny instruments. Micromanipulations
D011092 Polyethylene Glycols Polymers of ETHYLENE OXIDE and water, and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid depending on the molecular weight indicated by a number following the name. They are used as SURFACTANTS, dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, and tablet excipients. Some specific groups are NONOXYNOLS, OCTOXYNOLS, and POLOXAMERS. Macrogols,Polyoxyethylenes,Carbowax,Macrogol,Polyethylene Glycol,Polyethylene Oxide,Polyethyleneoxide,Polyglycol,Glycol, Polyethylene,Glycols, Polyethylene,Oxide, Polyethylene,Oxides, Polyethylene,Polyethylene Oxides,Polyethyleneoxides,Polyglycols,Polyoxyethylene
D011506 Proteins Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein. Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D003460 Crystallization The formation of crystalline substances from solutions or melts. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Crystalline Polymorphs,Polymorphism, Crystallization,Crystal Growth,Polymorphic Crystals,Crystal, Polymorphic,Crystalline Polymorph,Crystallization Polymorphism,Crystallization Polymorphisms,Crystals, Polymorphic,Growth, Crystal,Polymorph, Crystalline,Polymorphic Crystal,Polymorphisms, Crystallization,Polymorphs, Crystalline
D001703 Biophysics The study of PHYSICAL PHENOMENA and PHYSICAL PROCESSES as applied to living things. Mechanobiology
D015233 Models, Statistical Statistical formulations or analyses which, when applied to data and found to fit the data, are then used to verify the assumptions and parameters used in the analysis. Examples of statistical models are the linear model, binomial model, polynomial model, two-parameter model, etc. Probabilistic Models,Statistical Models,Two-Parameter Models,Model, Statistical,Models, Binomial,Models, Polynomial,Statistical Model,Binomial Model,Binomial Models,Model, Binomial,Model, Polynomial,Model, Probabilistic,Model, Two-Parameter,Models, Probabilistic,Models, Two-Parameter,Polynomial Model,Polynomial Models,Probabilistic Model,Two Parameter Models,Two-Parameter Model
D052898 Optical Tweezers A technique that uses LASERS to trap, image, and manipulate small objects (biomolecules, supramolecular assembles, DENDRIMERS) in three dimensional space. (From Glossary of Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology Terms, 4th ed.) Laser Tweezers,Optical Trap,Optical Trapping,Laser Tweezer,Optical Traps,Optical Tweezer,Trap, Optical,Trapping, Optical,Traps, Optical,Tweezer, Laser,Tweezer, Optical,Tweezers, Laser,Tweezers, Optical

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