Trapped Ion Imaging for Biomolecular Dynamics

生物大分子的功能性是由它们的化学组成和活性形式的折叠形状决定的。核酸、蛋白质、碳水化合物和脂质的高级结构和动力学驱动着生命的化学过程。结合单分子显微镜和捕获离子质谱将开发一种新的工具，用于精确测量大生物分子中的高阶折叠动力学。包括福斯特共振能量转移和超分辨率成像在内的光学技术可以记录到纳米尺度的形状变化。独特的适应性离子阱环境使周围的溶剂笼，温度和净电荷的操纵下降到单量子水平。

The functionality of large biological molecules is driven by their chemical composition and the folded shape of their active form. The higher-order structure and dynamics of nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids drives the chemistry of life. Combining single molecule microscopy and trapped ion mass spectroscopy will develop a new tool for precision measurements of higher-order folding dynamics in large biomolecules. Optical techniques including Förster resonance energy transfer and super-resolution imaging can register changes in shape down to the nanometer scale. The uniquely adaptable ion trap environment enables manipulation of the surrounding solvent cage, temperature, and net charge down to the single quantum level.