Biomolecular tweezers facilitate study of mechanical force effects on cells and proteins
Monday, March 10, 2014 - 08:50
in Physics & Chemistry
A new type of biomolecular tweezers could help researchers study how mechanical forces affect the biochemical activity of cells and proteins. The devices – too small to see without a microscope – use opposing magnetic and electrophoretic forces to precisely stretch the cells and molecules, holding them in position so that the activity of receptors and other biochemical activity can be studied.