Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition

Molecular recognition, also known as biorecognition, is the heart of all biological interactions. Originating from protein stretching experiments, dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) allows for the extraction of detailed information on the unbinding process of biomolecular complexes. It is becoming progressively more important in biochemical studies and is finding wider applications in areas such as biophysics and polymer science. In six chapters, Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition covers the most recent ideas and advances in the field of DFS applied to biorecognition:

• Chapter 1: Reviews the basic and novel aspects of biorecognition and discusses the emerging capabilities of single-molecule techniques to disclose kinetic properties and molecular mechanisms usually hidden in bulk measurements
• Chapter 2: Describes the basic principle of atomic force microsocopy (AFM) and DFS, with particular attention to instrumental and theoretical aspects more strictly related to the study of biomolecules
• Chapter 3: Overviews the theoretical background in which experimental data taken in nonequilibrum measurements of biomolecular unbinding forces are extrapolated to equilibrium conditions
• Chapter 4: Reviews the most common and efficient strategies adopted in DFS experiments to immobilize the interacting biomolecules to the AFM tip and to the substrate
• Chapter 5: Presents and discusses the most representative aspects related to the analysis of DFS data and the challenges of integrating well-defined criteria to calibrate data in automatic routinary procedures
• Chapter 6: Overviews the most relevant DFS applications to study biorecognition processes, including the biotin/avidin pair, and selected results on various biological complexes, including antigen/antibody, proteins/DNA, and complexes involved in adhesion processes
• Chapter 7: Summarizes the main results obtained by DFS applied to study biorecognition processes with forthcoming theoretical and experimental advances

Although DFS is a widespread, worldwide technique, no books focused on this subject have been available until now. Dynamic Force Spectroscopy and Biomolecular Recognition provides the state of the art of experimental data analysis and theoretical procedures, making it a useful tool for researchers applying DFS to study biorecognition processes.

Anna Rita Bizzarri received her degree in Physics in 1987 from the University of Rome. She obtained the Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1992 from SISSA in Trieste. After postdoctoral fellowships in Perugia and Mainz she joined the Science Faculty at Tuscia University, Italy, as research assistant. In 2000, she became Associate Professor of Physics and in 2006 she got the position of full Professor. Her scientific interests include spectroscopic investigations and MD simulations of electron transfer metalloproteins. More recently, she has focused on single-molecule level detection by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopies for both fundamental and applicative aims.

Salvatore Cannistraro obtained his degree in Physics in 1972 from Pisa University. He received his Ph.D. in Biophysics at Liegi University,Belgium. In 1977, he became reader of Biophysics at Calabria University. He moved to Perugia University in 1981 as Associate Professor of Molecular Physics. Since 1991, he has been a full professor of Physics, Biophysics, and Nanoscience at Tuscia University, leading the Biophysics and Nanoscience Centre. His scientific interests include optical, magnetic, neutron spectroscopies and modelling of amorphous and biological systems. More recently, he is focusing his activity on the application of AFM, STM, and Raman SERS to single biomolecule detection and nanobiomedicine.