In-Silico Analyses of Molecular Force Sensors for Mechanical Characterization of Biological Systems.

ABSTRACT: Mechanical forces play key roles in biological processes such as cell migration and sensory perception. In recent years molecular force sensors have been developed as tools for in situ force measurements. Here we use all-atom steered molecular dynamics simulations to predict and study the relationship between design parameters and mechanical properties for three types of molecular force sensors commonly used in cellular biological research: two peptide- and one DNA-based. The peptide-based sensors consist of a pair of fluorescent proteins, which can undergo Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), linked by spider silk (GPGGA)_n or synthetic (GGSGGS)_n disordered regions. The DNA-based sensor consists of two fluorophore-labeled strands of DNA that can be unzippe

SUBMITTER: Lopez DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11291006 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature