Dynamic 3D structure extraction from HS-AFM imaging, by enabling the observation of highly active biomolecules, high-speed AFM has opened up new avenues for dynamic molecular techniques.
A large number of successful applications in the last 15 years provide unique insights into important biological processes at the nanoscale – visualizing, for example, how molecular motors work precisely.
An important limitation of AFM imaging is that only the surface can be acquired and the AFM tip is large enough to resolve sub-nanometer size detail.
In order to facilitate the interpretation and understanding of HS-AFM analysis, research studies and computational methods are increasingly employed.
In their research report published in the journal Current Opinion in Structural Biology, Holger Flechsig (NanoLSI, Computational Science) and Toshio Ando (Professor Emeritus in NanoLSI) provide an overview of developments in this subject area of interdisciplinary research.
Computer modeling and simulations have already made it possible to reconstruct 3D conformations with atomic resolution from AFM images with ultra-high resolution. In addition, quantitative analysis methods allow for example the automatic recognition of biomolecular shape changes from topographic images, or the function of identification including the identification of amino acid residues on the molecular surface.
Mathematical methods developed in open access software are often used, allowing useful applications from the large Bio-AFM community to support research studies.
In that regard, the BioAFMviewer software program started at Kanazawa University in 2020 has received a lot of attention and is playing an important role in a plethora of collaborative projects.
Combining advanced AFM instrumentation with structural analysis will enhance the understanding of how proteins function and the details of atoms.
A critical future goal is to apply molecular modeling to reconstruct flat 3D molecular films from high-resolution AFM topographic films.
Source: WPI Nano LSI, Kanazawa University
