Probing self-assembly dynamics by high speed-atomic force microscopy

Abstract

Cellular life harbours a fascinating variety of complex processes and we are still at the beginning of our understanding of these processes. Atomic-scale reconstructions using crystallography or electron microscopy approaches have unveiled great views on cellular components such as proteins and higher-order proteinaceous assemblies. However, these static techniques do not reveal the dynamics of the studied constructs. Using High Speed-Atomic Force Microscopy (HS-AFM) we are now able to scrutinize the dynamics of molecular processes at the nanometre scale, in real time, in liquid.