Life under tension: the relevance of force on biological polymers

Matthew T.J. Halma; Longfu Xu

doi:10.52601/bpr.2023.230019

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Matthew T.J. Halma, Longfu Xu. Life under tension: the relevance of force on biological polymers[J]. Biophysics Reports. doi: 10.52601/bpr.2023.230019

Citation:

Matthew T.J. Halma, Longfu Xu. Life under tension: the relevance of force on biological polymers[J]. Biophysics Reports. doi: 10.52601/bpr.2023.230019

Matthew T.J. Halma, Longfu Xu. Life under tension: the relevance of force on biological polymers[J]. Biophysics Reports. doi: 10.52601/bpr.2023.230019

Citation:

Matthew T.J. Halma, Longfu Xu. Life under tension: the relevance of force on biological polymers[J]. Biophysics Reports. doi: 10.52601/bpr.2023.230019

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Life under tension: the relevance of force on biological polymers

doi: 10.52601/bpr.2023.230019

Matthew T.J. Halma^{1, 2, M
,
,},
Longfu Xu^{1, M}

1.
Department of Physics and Astronomy and LaserLab, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2.
LUMICKS B. V., 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

More Information

Corresponding author: m.t.j.halma@vu.nl (M. T. J. Halma)
Received Date: 11 October 2023
Accepted Date: 06 December 2023

Available Online: 26 February 2024

Abstract

Abstract

Optical tweezers have elucidated numerous biological processes, particularly by enabling the precise manipulation and measurement of tension. One question concerns the biological relevance of these experiments and the generalizability of these experiments to wider biological systems. Here, we categorize the applicability of the information garnered from optical tweezers in two distinct categories: the direct relevance of tension in biological systems, and what experiments under tension can tell us about biological systems, while these systems do not reach the same tension as the experiment, still, these artificial experimental systems reveal insights into the operations of biological machines and life processes.
- Tension,
- Optical tweezers,
- Molecular force

Matthew Halma is employed by Lumicks B.V., a manufacturer of optical tweezers instruments. Longfu Xu declares that he has no conflict of interest.
This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Matthew T.J. Halma and Longfu Xu contributed equally to this work.

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References(55)

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