International Postdoctoral Fellows Program: Physics of DNA and Proteins

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This award is under the International Postdoctoral Fellows Program, which enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twelve months of research at foreign centers of proven excellence. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twelve-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Adam Simon to work with Dr. David Bensimon at Ecole Normale Superieure, CNRS in Paris, France. Their proposed research program concerns the physics of DNA and proteins. It consists of two general parts. The first one is a plan to accurately characterize the physical properties of DNA, including the elasticity and torsional strength using laser tweezer based experiments, and to study the physics and dynamics of DNA replication and polymerization, including the activity of the associated motor proteins involved. For the second part, they intend to make precise picoNewton force measurements of motor protein pairs, like actin-myosin, using an enhanced magnetic feedback non-contact tip on an Atomic Force Microscope. Precise interaction force measurements can be made by coating the tip, for example, with a low density of myosin molecules and measuring the interaction force with an actin filament. They expect to reveal details of the single molecule interaction, allowing understanding of the elementary force generator. The award recommendation provides funds to cover international travel, a stipend for twelve months and a small travel allowance for in-country travel.