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PV: Plenarvorträge

PV I

PV I: Plenary Talk

Monday, March 16, 2015, 08:30–09:15, H 0105

Force and Function: Single Molecule Biophysics of Molecular Interactions — •Hermann E. Gaub — Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany

Molecular interactions are the basis of life and forces play a crucial role in both the assembly and the structural integrity as well as the dynamics of all living systems. The regulation of bio-molecular complexes, the maintenance of cellular structures, and even cell signaling are controlled by forces. At the molecular level the relation between these forces and their biological functions have become accessible by the different single molecule force spectroscopy techniques, which evolved in recent years. A deeper understanding of the physics of this relation has emerged from the very fruitful combination of the high resolution and precision of such experiments with the insight in structural rearrangements from all-atom Molecular Dynamics Calculations. In this talk a general overview on this field will be given, followed by a report on recent discoveries: The activation mechanisms of two prominent intracellular force sensors, Myosin Light Chain Kinase and Titin Kinase were elucidated. The clamp-mechanism of catch bonds between Cohesin and Dockerins in the Cellulosome complexes could be resolved. Novel strategies for parallelization of force-measuring assays will be discussed and a new chip based strategy will be introduced starting out from genes providing direct access to the mechanics of the encoded proteins in a one step process. At last, the use of molecular force balances for the analysis of DNA-protein interactions will be presented.