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Single-Molecule Methods to Study Cell Adhesion Molecules

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Integrin and Cell Adhesion Molecules

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 757))

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Abstract

Single molecule techniques are used to characterize the biophysical properties of individual molecules in a mechanically well-controlled environment. The information obtained from direct force measurements can provide the dynamic adhesion forces of cell adhesion molecules, which may shed insights on molecular mechanisms of cellular adhesion. In addition, single-molecule techniques enable us to observe the detailed distributions of individual molecular behaviors that cannot be readily obtained from ensemble measurements. In this chapter, the protocols of using atomic force microscopy and optical tweezers to study cell adhesion molecules are presented.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Adam Karcz, Jiwon Chung, Ciro Cecconi, Elizabeth Shank, and Ragan Robertson for their help in developing protocols. This work was supported by Nano-Bio Fund from the state of the Maryland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Fischell Bioengineering Department, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Joonil Seog

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  1. Joonil Seog
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Correspondence to Joonil Seog .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Immune Disease Institute, Harvard Medical School, Longwood Avenue 200, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Motomu Shimaoka

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Seog, J. (2011). Single-Molecule Methods to Study Cell Adhesion Molecules. In: Shimaoka, M. (eds) Integrin and Cell Adhesion Molecules. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 757. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-166-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-166-6_11

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-165-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-166-6

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