Bright-field analysis of phi29 DNA packaging motor using a magnetomechanical system
Date of this Version
10-13-2008Citation
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS 93, 153902 (2008)
This document has been peer-reviewed.
Abstract
We report a simple and robust magnetomechanical system for direct visual observation of the DNA packaging behavior of the bacteriophage phi29 in real time. The system comprises a micron-sized magnetic bead attached to the free end of the viral DNA, a magnet and a bright-field microscope. We show that the phi29 DNA packaging activity can be observed and dynamically analyzed at the single molecular level in bright field with a relatively simple system. With this system we also visually demonstrate the phi29 motor transporting a cargo 10 000 times the viral size.
Discipline(s)
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
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