Single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) tools are widely used to study structural transitions of DNA during overstretching. However, as many of these tools only provide global information, the exact mechanisms that occur during these transitions remain unclear. Combining SMFS with visualization of local information could resolve this problem.
Our Multicolor Detection application note demonstrates how LUMICKS’ C-Trap® technology combines high-resolution optical tweezers as a SMFS tool with confocal fluorescence microscopy to monitor the transition of double-stranded DNA to single-stranded DNA upon applying mechanical stress.