The aim of this volume is to provide a comprehensive overview of optical tweezers setups, both in practical and theoretical terms, to help biophysicists, biochemists, and cell biologists to build and calibrate their own instruments and to perform force measurements on mechanoenzymes both in isolation
in vitro
and in living cells. Chapters have been divided in three parts focusing on theory and practical design of optical tweezers, detailed prools for performing force measurements on single DNA- and microtubule/actin-associated mechanoenzymes in isolation, and describing recent advances that have opened up quantitative force measurements in living cells. Written in the highly successful
Methods in Molecular Biology
series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory prools, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Authoritative and cutting-edge,
Optical Tweezers: Methods and Prools
aims help to further expand the accessibility and use of optical traps by scientists of diverse disciplines.