Nanoscale mechanical properties of single biomolecules by AFM

In the past 25 years the atomic force microscope (AFM) has become a true enabling platform in the life sciences opening entire novel avenues for structural and dynamic studies of biological systems. It enables visualization, probing and manipulation across the length scales, from single molecules to living cells in buffer solution under physiological conditions without the need for labeling or staining of the pecimen. Currently there is a great interest in AFM based high resolution echanical mapping techniques providing single molecule resolution of mechanical properties to derive molecular structure-function relationships. In this article selected examples of the recent literature are highlighted including own results obtained by peak force tapping AFM to elaborate the mechanical properties of lysozyme molecules adsorbed to mica substrates