Nanomechanics of full-length nebulin: an elastic strain gauge in the skeletal muscle sarcomere.

ABSTRACT: Nebulin, a family of giant modular proteins (MW 700-800 kDa), acts as a F-actin thin filament ruler and calcium-linked regulator of actomyosin interaction. The nanomechanics of full length, native rabbit nebulin was investigated with an atomic force microscope by tethering, bracketing, and stretching full-length molecules via pairs of site-specific antibodies that were attached covalently, one to a protein resistant self-assembled monolayer of oligoethylene glycol and the other to the cantilever. Using this new nanomechanics platform that enables the identification of single molecule events via an unbiased analysis of detachment force and distance of all force curves, we showed that nebulin is elastic and extends to approximately 1 microm by external force up to an antibody detachment forc

SUBMITTER: Yadavalli VK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2998391 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature