Probing nature’s nano-machines with “next generation” single-molecule techniques

Synopsis

Scientists have come to view the living cell as a kind of “factory”, where specialized machinery carries out essential tasks at specific places and times. These molecular nano-machines perform tasks as diverse as maintaining the cell’s genome, transporting cargo around the cell, and moving the cells themselves.  Using tools at the interface between physics-archive and biology, researchers are now able to study these machines one at a time.  These single-molecule tools have revolutionized our understanding of molecular biology, providing new insights on the structural, mechanical, and dynamic properties of biomolecules. Despite these advances, the information extracted from single-molecule measurements is often limited.  In this talk, I will focus on our work developing the next generation of single-molecule techniques to overcome these limitations, providing unprecedented access into the relationship between protein structure and function.  I will discuss how these new approaches are helping us understand the cellular machinery that maintains and repairs the genome.