---
_id: '3421'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Single molecule experiments provide insight into the individuality of biological
    macromolecules, their unique function, reaction pathways, trajectories and molecular
    interactions. The exceptional signal-to-noise ratio of the atomic force microscope
    allows individual proteins to be imaged under physiologically relevant conditions
    at a lateral resolution of 0.5–1 nm and a vertical resolution of 0.1–0.2 nm. Recently,
    it has become possible to observe single molecule events using this technique.
    This capability is reviewed on various water-soluble and membrane proteins. Examples
    of the observation of function, variability, and assembly of single proteins are
    discussed. Statistical analysis is important to extend conclusions derived from
    single molecule experiments to protein species. Such approaches allow the classification
    of protein conformations and movements. Recent developments of probe microscopy
    techniques allow simultaneous measurement of multiple signals on individual macromolecules,
    and greatly extend the range of experiments possible for probing biological systems
    at the molecular level. Biologists exploring molecular mechanisms will benefit
    from a burgeoning of scanning probe microscopes and of their future combination
    with molecular biological experiments.
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: review
author:
- first_name: Daniel
  full_name: Mueller, Daniel
  last_name: Mueller
- first_name: Harald L
  full_name: Janovjak, Harald L
  id: 33BA6C30-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Janovjak
  orcid: 0000-0002-8023-9315
- first_name: Tiina
  full_name: Lehto, Tiina
  last_name: Lehto
- first_name: Lars
  full_name: Kuerschner, Lars
  last_name: Kuerschner
- first_name: Kurt
  full_name: Anderson, Kurt
  last_name: Anderson
citation:
  ama: Mueller D, Janovjak HL, Lehto T, Kuerschner L, Anderson K. Observing structure,
    function and assembly of single proteins by AFM. <i>Progress in Biophysics and
    Molecular Biology</i>. 2002;79(1-3):1-43. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3">10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3</a>
  apa: Mueller, D., Janovjak, H. L., Lehto, T., Kuerschner, L., &#38; Anderson, K.
    (2002). Observing structure, function and assembly of single proteins by AFM.
    <i>Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology</i>. Elsevier. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3">https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3</a>
  chicago: Mueller, Daniel, Harald L Janovjak, Tiina Lehto, Lars Kuerschner, and Kurt
    Anderson. “Observing Structure, Function and Assembly of Single Proteins by AFM.”
    <i>Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology</i>. Elsevier, 2002. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3">https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3</a>.
  ieee: D. Mueller, H. L. Janovjak, T. Lehto, L. Kuerschner, and K. Anderson, “Observing
    structure, function and assembly of single proteins by AFM,” <i>Progress in Biophysics
    and Molecular Biology</i>, vol. 79, no. 1–3. Elsevier, pp. 1–43, 2002.
  ista: Mueller D, Janovjak HL, Lehto T, Kuerschner L, Anderson K. 2002. Observing
    structure, function and assembly of single proteins by AFM. Progress in Biophysics
    and Molecular Biology. 79(1–3), 1–43.
  mla: Mueller, Daniel, et al. “Observing Structure, Function and Assembly of Single
    Proteins by AFM.” <i>Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology</i>, vol. 79,
    no. 1–3, Elsevier, 2002, pp. 1–43, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3">10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3</a>.
  short: D. Mueller, H.L. Janovjak, T. Lehto, L. Kuerschner, K. Anderson, Progress
    in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 79 (2002) 1–43.
date_created: 2018-12-11T12:03:14Z
date_published: 2002-05-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2023-07-17T11:36:32Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1016/S0079-6107(02)00009-3
extern: '1'
external_id:
  pmid:
  - '12225775'
intvolume: '        79'
issue: 1-3
language:
- iso: eng
month: '05'
oa_version: None
page: 1 - 43
pmid: 1
publication: Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 0079-6107
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
publist_id: '2980'
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Observing structure, function and assembly of single proteins by AFM
type: journal_article
user_id: ea97e931-d5af-11eb-85d4-e6957dddbf17
volume: 79
year: '2002'
...