Integrating magnetic tweezers and single-molecule FRET: A comprehensive approach to studying local and global conformational changes simultaneously

Abstract

This chapter presents the integration of magnetic tweezers with single-molecule FRET technology, a significant advancement in the study of nucleic acids and other biological systems. We detail the technical aspects, challenges, and current status of this hybrid technique, which combines the global manipulation and observation capabilities of magnetic tweezers with the local conformational detection of smFRET. This innovative approach enhances our ability to analyze and understand the molecular mechanics of biological systems. The chapter serves as our first formal documentation of this method, offering insights and methodologies developed in our laboratory over the past decade.

Keywords: Conformational change; Integration; Magnetic tweezers; Single-molecule FRET; Synchronization.