The study of protein mechanics with the atomic force microscope

The unfolding and folding of single protein molecules can be studied with a n atomic force microscope (AFM). Many proteins with mechanical functions co ntain multiple, individually folded domains with similar structures. Protei n engineering techniques have enabled the construction and expression of re combinant proteins that contain multiple copies of identical domains. Thus, the AFM in combination with protein engineering has enabled the kinetic an alysis of the force-induced unfolding and refolding of individual domains a s well as the study of the determinants of mechanical stability.