Mapping Mechanical Force Propagation through Biomolecular Complexes

作者：Schoeler Constantin; Bernardi Rafael C; Malinowska Klara H; Durner Ellis; Ott Wolfgang; Bayer Edward A; Schulten Klaus; Nash Michael A; Gaub Hermann E

来源：Nano Letters, 2015, 15(11): 7370-7376.

DOI：10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02727

• Force propagation
• single molecule force spectroscopy
• steered molecular dynamics
• network analysis
• cohesin-dockerin

Here we employ single-molecule force spectroscopy with an atomic force microscope (AFM) and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to reveal force propagation pathways through a mechanically ultrastable Multidomain cellulosome protein complex. We demonstrate a new combination of network-based correlation analysis supported by AFM directional pulling experiments, which allowed us to visualize stiff paths through the protein complex along which force is transmitted. The results implicate specific force-propagation routes nonparallel to the pulling axis that are advantageous for achieving high dissociation forces.

• 出版日期2015-11