Characterization of single proteins using double nanohole optical tweezers

dc.contributor.authorHacohen, Noa
dc.contributor.supervisorGordon, Reuven
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-28T21:24:32Z
dc.date.available2018-05-28T21:24:32Z
dc.date.copyright2018en_US
dc.date.issued2018-05-28
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineeringen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Applied Science M.A.Sc.en_US
dc.description.abstractProteomic studies at the single molecular level could provide better understanding of the protein’s behaviour and the effects of its interactions with other biomolecules. This could have an impact on drug development methods, disease diagnosis, and targeted therapy. Aperture assisted optical trapping is a proven technique for isolating single proteins in solution without the use of tethers or labels, and without denaturing them. Thus enabling studies of protein-protein interactions, protein-small molecule interactions, and protein-DNA interactions. In this work, double nanohole (DNH) optical tweezers were used to analyze the protein composition of heterogeneous mixtures. The trapped proteins were grouped by molecular mass based on two metrics: standard deviation of the trapping laser intensity fluctuations, and the time constant of the autocorrelation function of these fluctuations. The quantitative analysis is demonstrated first for two separate standard-size proteins, then for a mixed solution of both. Finally, the approach is applied to real unprocessed egg white solution. The results correspond well with the known protein composition of egg white found in the literature. The DNH optical tweezers’ ability to distinguish proteins in unpurified heterogeneous mixtures, can progress this technique to the next level, allowing for single biomolecular studies of unprocessed physiological solutions like blood, urine, or saliva.en_US
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/9402
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectAperture assisted optical tweezersen_US
dc.subjectProtein single moleculeen_US
dc.subjectDouble nanoholeen_US
dc.subjectFIBen_US
dc.subjectSEMen_US
dc.subjectEgg whiteen_US
dc.titleCharacterization of single proteins using double nanohole optical tweezersen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Hacohen_Noa_MASc_2018.pdf
Size:
3.87 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: