ERIC Number: EJ791541
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May
Pages: 4
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-9120
EISSN: N/A
Hands-on Force Spectroscopy: Weird Springs and Protein Folding
Euler, Manfred
Physics Education, v43 n3 p305-308 May 2008
A force spectroscopy model experiment is presented using a low-cost tensile apparatus described earlier. Force-extension measurements of twisted rubber bands are obtained. They exhibit a complex nonlinear elastic behaviour that resembles atomic force spectroscopy investigations of molecules of titin, a muscle protein. The model experiments open up intriguing possibilities to stimulate insight into entropy-driven self-organization of soft biological matter at the nanometre scale and into protein folding by hands-on experience and analogical transfer. (Contains 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Science Activities, Spectroscopy, Scientific Concepts, Science Instruction, Science Experiments, Measurement, Hands on Science, Molecular Structure
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://journals.iop.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A