Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Improving single molecule force spectroscopy through automated real-time data collection and quantification of experimental conditions.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Scholl, ZN; Marszalek, PE
Published in: Ultramicroscopy
January 2014

The benefits of single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) clearly outweigh the challenges which include small sample sizes, tedious data collection and introduction of human bias during the subjective data selection. These difficulties can be partially eliminated through automation of the experimental data collection process for atomic force microscopy (AFM). Automation can be accomplished using an algorithm that triages usable force-extension recordings quickly with positive and negative selection. We implemented an algorithm based on the windowed fast Fourier transform of force-extension traces that identifies peaks using force-extension regimes to correctly identify usable recordings from proteins composed of repeated domains. This algorithm excels as a real-time diagnostic because it involves <30 ms computational time, has high sensitivity and specificity, and efficiently detects weak unfolding events. We used the statistics provided by the automated procedure to clearly demonstrate the properties of molecular adhesion and how these properties change with differences in the cantilever tip and protein functional groups and protein age.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ultramicroscopy

DOI

EISSN

1879-2723

ISSN

0304-3991

Publication Date

January 2014

Volume

136

Start / End Page

7 / 14

Related Subject Headings

  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Proteins
  • Protein Folding
  • Nanotechnology
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy
  • Humans
  • Algorithms
  • 5104 Condensed matter physics
  • 3406 Physical chemistry
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Scholl, Z. N., & Marszalek, P. E. (2014). Improving single molecule force spectroscopy through automated real-time data collection and quantification of experimental conditions. Ultramicroscopy, 136, 7–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.020
Scholl, Zackary N., and Piotr E. Marszalek. “Improving single molecule force spectroscopy through automated real-time data collection and quantification of experimental conditions.Ultramicroscopy 136 (January 2014): 7–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.020.
Scholl, Zackary N., and Piotr E. Marszalek. “Improving single molecule force spectroscopy through automated real-time data collection and quantification of experimental conditions.Ultramicroscopy, vol. 136, Jan. 2014, pp. 7–14. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.07.020.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ultramicroscopy

DOI

EISSN

1879-2723

ISSN

0304-3991

Publication Date

January 2014

Volume

136

Start / End Page

7 / 14

Related Subject Headings

  • Spectrum Analysis
  • Proteins
  • Protein Folding
  • Nanotechnology
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy
  • Humans
  • Algorithms
  • 5104 Condensed matter physics
  • 3406 Physical chemistry