Mechanical unfolding of ensemble biomolecular structures by shear force. Issue 30 (25th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Changpeng; Jonchhe, Sagun; Pokhrel, Pravin; Karna, Deepak; Mao, Hanbin
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 12:Issue 30(2021)
• Page Start: 10159
• Page End: 10164
• Publication Date: 2021-07-25
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d1sc02257a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : Shear force in a homogenizer mechanically unfolds an ensemble set of biomolecular structures. Abstract : Mechanical unfolding of biomolecular structures has been exclusively performed at the single-molecule level by single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) techniques. Here we transformed sophisticated mechanical investigations on individual molecules into a simple platform suitable for molecular ensembles. By using shear flow inside a homogenizer tip, DNA secondary structures such as i-motifs are unfolded by shear force up to 50 pN at a 77 796 s −1 shear rate. We found that the larger the molecules, the higher the exerted shear forces. This shear force approach revealed affinity between ligands and i-motif structures. It also demonstrated a mechano-click reaction in which a Cu(i ) catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition was modulated by shear force. We anticipate that this ensemble force spectroscopy method can investigate intra- and inter-molecular interactions with the throughput, accuracy, and robustness unparalleled to those of SMFS methods.