Cutting Edge Lectures in Science: Structure and dynamics of Supramolecular Systems one Molecule at a Time

Structure and Dynamics of Supramolecular Systems one Molecule at a Time

By Gonzalo Cosa (Chemistry, McGill)

Advances in electronics, optics and nanotechnology have led to a tremendous progress in optical imaging over the past years. In the specific case of fluorescence imaging, the possibility of visualizing single fluorescent molecules with exquisite spatial and temporal resolution gave rise to the field of Single Molecule Spectroscopy (SMS). This technique has provided new paradigms in chemical biology, biochemistry and biophysics by revealing unique information otherwise hidden in ensemble measurements.

A major interest in our research activities is to expand SMS methods to study and characterize nanomaterials and supramolecular systems. In this presentation I will describe our recent progress on the single particle imaging of DNA nanotubes of various architectures. I will also discuss our single molecule spectroscopy characterization of liposome beacons, liposomes encapsulating water soluble conjugated polyelectrolytes, with an emphasis on their role in biosensing platforms. In closing, I will also address our single molecule mechanistic enzymatic studies, where we are investigating the molecular structure and dynamics of key protein/nucleic acid complexes that are intermediates in polymerase catalyzed RNA synthesis.