Observe your protein on DNA in real-time to directly connect its molecular mechanism to its clinical impact

That is the dream, isn’t it?

Learn how you can get one step closer to achieving this, like 75 other leading institutes worldwide are already doing

Read this CRISPR/Cas9 story!

Understanding how DNA-binding proteins interact with DNA is key

For example, by looking at the interactions of POLQ with DNA, a recent study suggests that the inhibition of its DNA-repair capabilities could play a synergetic role with the inhibition of another DNA repair protein, PARP. Indeed, targeting both proteins in novel cancer therapies could result in the efficient killing of cancer cells.

Adapted from Belan et al. Molecular Cell (2022)

Watch this 60s summary video!

Current methods often struggles to reveal the dynamic molecular mechanism of individual proteins on DNA 

The protein’s molecular function can be inferred through methods that examine its detailed static structure or average behavior. However, these methods are often unable to reveal some of the crucial mechanistic details that are only accessible when:

  • Looking dynamically

  • In real-time

  • At the single-molecule level

  • With great experimental control 

  • Dynamic

    DNA-protein interactions are inherently dynamic. Not only are the beginning and end states important, but all the intermediate states too. These can only be captured by a dynamic movie looking at every step of the process

  • Real-time

    Watching a dynamic movie of DNA-protein interactions in real-time gives the ability to have direct influence over the movie, as it unfolds. This enables unique conditions and functions to be investigated

  • Single-molecule

    When looking at a large number of proteins, the average protein function can hide sub-population or individual behaviors. Behaviors that are functionally key and that are only visible when looking at a single protein

  • Experimental control

    Having control over one specific piece of DNA, which proteins it is interacting with and in which condition it is really unlocks unique ways to probe and understand protein function

What if a method exists that fulfills all these requirements?

A dynamic single-molecule method for direct, indisputable proof of the detailed molecular mechanisms

Directly visualize the dynamics of individual proteins in real-time

Control and observe the stepwise assembly of the biological complex

Modulate the molecular system to probe different conditions

The C-Trap® is the world’s first dynamic single-molecule instrument

designed to capture detailed DNA-binding protein interactions in real-time, effortlessly, leading you in no time to highly impactful discoveries.

We are trusted worldwide by key opinion leaders that are already using the C-Trap to conduct highly impactful science

Senior vice-president at Artios Pharma Ltd and senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute in London

An expert in DNA repair and the treatment of cancer resulting from DNA damage.

“I think applications like [single-molecule approaches] will become more mainstream in terms of understanding DNA transaction-based reactions and how small molecules interfere with that.”

Group leader at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

An expert in the physics of life processes.

“The combination of fluorescence with optical tweezers is one of the biggest steps [forward], it allows studying the most complex interactions between protein and DNA.”

Group leader at TU Delft

An expert in multidisciplinary approaches to study the mechanics and dynamics of cells and tissues.

“We use [single-molecule techniques] to look at mechanical properties at the molecular level, which we correlate to mechanics at the cellular level.”