Optical 3D-nanometry to study the function of biomolecular motors in nanotransport [Elektronische Ressource] / von Bert Nitzsche

Optical 3D-Nanometry to Study the Function of Biomolecular Motors in Nanotransport Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Doktoringenieur (Dr.-Ing.) vorgelegt an der Fakultät Maschinenwesen der Technischen Universität Dresden von Dipl.-Kfm. Bert Nitzsche, MSc 2008 1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Wolfgang Pompe 2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Jonathon Howard 3. Gutachter: Dr.ir. Erwin J. G. Peterman Eingereicht am: 08.09.2008 Verteidigt am: 18.12.2008 ii Contents Contents ............................................................................... iii List of Abbreviations ................................................................ iv 1 Scope and Aim..... 1 2 Background........ 4 2.1 Biomolecular Motors – Molecular Machines Inside Cells ............................ 4 2.2 Bionanotechnology – Utilizing Nature’s Treasures ................................ 10 2.3 2-D Nanometer Tracking................................ 14 2.4 3-D Nanometer Tracking 17 2.5 Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Labels ................................................ 18 3 Results and Discussion......................................................... 21 3.1 Characterizing Interference-Assisted 3-D Tracking ............................... 22 3.2 Measuring Microtubule Supertwist Pitches Using Kinesin-1 ..................... 26 3.3 Determining Microtubule Supertwist Handedness....