Abstract

Traditional structural biology ensemble techniques such as x-ray crystallography, electron cryomicroscopy with angular reconstruction, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) provide detailed information on the structure of biological macromolecules. In cases where the crystal form of the macromolecule is available, the structure is known with the ultimate atomic resolution. The knowledge of the static structure can provide some insight to the macromolecule function, especially if it is coupled with other biochemical measurements, but in general the structure-function relationship is to a large extent unknown. With the aid of recently developed techniques such as patch clamp, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers, ionic current fluctuations in individual ion channels and forces and/or displacements generated during single molecular motor reaction were measured. Such measurements furnish information about function, but do not provide local, dynamical structural information.

© 1998 Optical Society of America