2006 Volume 4 Pages 149-154
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is increasingly used in biological sciences not only for imaging but also for measuring force of interaction between bio-molecular pairs. To conduct the force measurement on various bio-molecular pairs more effectively, we propose a new experimental system using protein-polymer complex which is compose of ligand modified polymer and its receptors. This experimental system is expected to prevent target biomolecules from deactivation, and to distinguish the specific interaction between biomolecules of interest with ease from non-specific adsorption between tip of a cantilever and a substrate surface, since the biomolecules of interest are bound on the flexible polymer. In an initial trial, we applied it to measure the force of interaction between avidin and biotin using CM-cellulose as a base polymer. As a result, we got 60-160 pN interaction forces which are proportional to logarithm of force loading rate, which is consistent with the previously reported tendency. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2006.149]