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Dr. Kerstin G. Blank, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany

Molecular Force Sensors: from molecular mechanisms towards applications in biology and materials science
Wann 19.02.2019
von 14:15 bis 15:15
Wo Seminar Room A / 01.011, Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), Stefan-Meier-Str. 21
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Biological systems are highly sophisticated smart materials. They are stimuli-responsive and
possess impressive self-reporting and self-healing properties. They are consequently an
important source of inspiration for materials scientists who aim to implement these properties in
synthetic and biomimetic materials. In this context, we are specifically interested in (bio)molecules
that act as molecular force sensors. In biological systems, these sensors detect a mechanical
stimulus and convert it into a biochemical signal. Mimicking their natural counterparts, a number
of different force sensors have been designed and synthesized in recent years that generate an
optical output (fluorescence). Following a calibration of their mechanical properties, these artificial
force sensors can report on molecular forces in situ in a highly sensitive manner.
In this lecture, I will summarize our efforts towards designing and characterizing molecular force
sensors, focusing on two classes of force sensors that are based on fundamentally different
molecular mechanisms: The first class utilizes biological molecules that form thermodynamically
stable, non-covalent interactions, such as short, double-stranded DNA duplexes or coiled coil
interactions. These force sensors report on forces in the range between 10-200 piconewton,
making them ideal candidates for applications in biological systems. The second class is based
on covalent bonds, which require forces above 400 pN to become activated. One example is the
mechanical activation of triazoles as they are formed in a typical ‘click chemistry’ reaction. With
these molecular force sensors at hand, our goal is to utilize these sensors for detecting cellular
traction forces or for visualizing force propagation pathways in polymeric materials.

 

Organisation und Kontakt:

Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry
A3BMS Lab: Adaptive, Active and Autonomous Bioinspired Material Systems 
Stefan-Meier-Strasse 31
Hermann Staudinger Building
Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg