Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays

Abstract The non-covalent biological bonds that constitute protein–protein or protein–ligand interactions play crucial roles in many cellular functions, including mitosis, motility, and cell–cell adhesion. The effect of external force ( $$F$$ F ) on the unbinding rate ( $${k}_{\text{off}}\left(F\rig...

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Main Authors: Apurba Paul, Joshua Alper
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03690-1
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author Apurba Paul
Joshua Alper
author_facet Apurba Paul
Joshua Alper
author_sort Apurba Paul
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The non-covalent biological bonds that constitute protein–protein or protein–ligand interactions play crucial roles in many cellular functions, including mitosis, motility, and cell–cell adhesion. The effect of external force ( $$F$$ F ) on the unbinding rate ( $${k}_{\text{off}}\left(F\right)$$ k off F ) of macromolecular interactions is a crucial parameter to understanding the mechanisms behind these functions. Optical tweezer-based single-molecule force spectroscopy is frequently used to obtain quantitative force-dependent dissociation data on slip, catch, and ideal bonds. However, analyses of this data using dissociation time or dissociation force histograms often quantitatively compare bonds without fully characterizing their underlying biophysical properties. Additionally, the results of histogram-based analyses can depend on the rate at which force was applied during the experiment and the experiment’s sensitivity. Here, we present an analytically derived cumulative distribution function-like approach to analyzing force-dependent dissociation force spectroscopy data. We demonstrate the benefits and limitations of the technique using stochastic simulations of various bond types. We show that it can be used to obtain the detachment rate and force sensitivity of biological macromolecular bonds from force spectroscopy experiments by explicitly accounting for loading rate and noisy data. We also discuss the implications of our results on using optical tweezers to collect force-dependent dissociation data.
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spelling doaj.art-1645fa408b2448c894e2c9c80966d5502022-12-22T04:03:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-01-0112111310.1038/s41598-021-03690-1Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assaysApurba Paul0Joshua Alper1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson UniversityDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson UniversityAbstract The non-covalent biological bonds that constitute protein–protein or protein–ligand interactions play crucial roles in many cellular functions, including mitosis, motility, and cell–cell adhesion. The effect of external force ( $$F$$ F ) on the unbinding rate ( $${k}_{\text{off}}\left(F\right)$$ k off F ) of macromolecular interactions is a crucial parameter to understanding the mechanisms behind these functions. Optical tweezer-based single-molecule force spectroscopy is frequently used to obtain quantitative force-dependent dissociation data on slip, catch, and ideal bonds. However, analyses of this data using dissociation time or dissociation force histograms often quantitatively compare bonds without fully characterizing their underlying biophysical properties. Additionally, the results of histogram-based analyses can depend on the rate at which force was applied during the experiment and the experiment’s sensitivity. Here, we present an analytically derived cumulative distribution function-like approach to analyzing force-dependent dissociation force spectroscopy data. We demonstrate the benefits and limitations of the technique using stochastic simulations of various bond types. We show that it can be used to obtain the detachment rate and force sensitivity of biological macromolecular bonds from force spectroscopy experiments by explicitly accounting for loading rate and noisy data. We also discuss the implications of our results on using optical tweezers to collect force-dependent dissociation data.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03690-1
spellingShingle Apurba Paul
Joshua Alper
Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays
Scientific Reports
title Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays
title_full Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays
title_fullStr Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays
title_full_unstemmed Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays
title_short Calculating the force-dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force-ramp optical trapping assays
title_sort calculating the force dependent unbinding rate of biological macromolecular bonds from force ramp optical trapping assays
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-03690-1
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