A complete examination of the uses of the atomic force microscope in biology and medicine This cutting-edge text, written by a team of leading experts, is the first detailed examination of the latest, most powerful scanning probe microscope, the atomic force microscope (AFM). Using the AFM, in combination with conventional tools and techniques, readers gain a profound understanding of the cell, subcellular organelles, and biomolecular structure and function. The text begins with three chapters describing the molecular machinery and mechanism of cell secretion and membrane fusion in cells, using approaches that combine AFM, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, photon correlation spectroscopy, molecular biology, biochemistry, and electrophysiology. The discovery of a new cellular structure the "e;porosome"e; or fusion pore--the cells secretory machinery, the molecular mechanism of membrane fusion in cells, and the expulsion of intravesicular contents during cell secretion are outlined in the first three chapters. The book also covers: * Identification of the "e;porosome"e; in the growth hormone secreting cell of the pituitary gland * Probing the structural and physical properties of microbial cell surfaces * Scanning probe microscopic characterization of the higher plant cell wall and its components * Case studies of nano drug delivery systems using engineered dendrimers * AFM techniques for studying living cells * Investigating the intermolecular forces of leukocyte adhesion molecules * Protein-protein interactions * Micromechanical properties of lipid bilayers and vesicles The text concludes with four chapters that examine new and emerging approaches in the use of force microscopy in biology and medicine. This text is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in cell and molecular biology, genetics, genomics, physiology, neuroscience, biophysics, and biochemistry. Not only does it provide the theory, but also practical considerations such as the selection of the right tools and approach.

A complete examination of the uses of the atomic force microscopein biology and medicineThis cutting-edge text, written by a team of leading experts, isthe first detailed examination of the latest, most powerfulscanning probe microscope, the atomic force microscope (AFM). Usingthe AFM, in combination with conventional tools and techniquesreaders gain a profound understanding of the cell, subcellularorganelles, and biomolecular structure and function.The text begins with three chapters describing the molecularmachinery and mechanism of cell secretion and membrane fusion incells, using approaches that combine AFM, electron microscopyX-ray diffraction, photon correlation spectroscopy, molecularbiology, biochemistry, and electrophysiology. The discovery of anew cellular structure the "porosome" or fusion pore--the cellssecretory machinery, the molecular mechanism of membrane fusion incells, and the expulsion of intravesicular contents during cellsecretion are outlined in the first three chapters. The book alsocovers:* Identification of the "porosome" in the growth hormone secretingcell of the pituitary gland* Probing the structural and physical properties of microbial cellsurfaces* Scanning probe microscopic characterization of the higher plantcell wall and its components* Case studies of nano drug delivery systems using engineereddendrimers* AFM techniques for studying living cells* Investigating the intermolecular forces of leukocyte adhesionmolecules* Protein-protein interactions* Micromechanical properties of lipid bilayers and vesiclesThe text concludes with four chapters that examine new and emergingapproaches in the use of force microscopy in biology andmedicine.This text is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate studentsand researchers in cell and molecular biology, genetics, genomicsphysiology, neuroscience, biophysics, and biochemistry. Not onlydoes it provide the theory, but also practical considerations suchas the selection of the right tools and approach.

Preface.Contributors.Chapter 1. Porosome: The Universal Secretory Machinery in Cells(Bhanu P. Jena).Chapter 2. Molecular Mechanism of SNARE-Induced Membrane Fusion(Bhanu P. Jena).Chapter 3. Molecular Mechanism of Secretory Vesicle ContentExpulsion During Cell Secretion (Bhanu P. Jena).Chapter 4. Fusion Pores in Growth-Hormone-Secreting Cells of thePituitary Gland: An AFM Study (Lloyd L. Anderson and Bhanu P.Jena).Chapter 5. Properties of Microbial Cell Surfaces Examined byAtomic Force Microscopy (Yves F. Dufre&ncirc;e).Chapter 6. Scanning Probe Microscopy of Plant Cell Wall and ItsConstituents (Ksenija Radotić, MiodragMićić, and MiloradJeremić).Chapter 7. Cellular Interactions of Nano Drug Delivery Systems(Rangaramanujam M. Kannan, Omathanu Pillai Perumal, andSujatha Kannan).Chapter 8. Adapting AFM Techniques for Studies on Living Cells(J. K. Heinrich Hörber)Chapter 9. Intermolecular Forces of Leukocyte Adhesion Molecules(Xiaohui Zhang and Vincent T. Moy).Chapter 10. Mechanisms of Avidity Modulation in LeukocyteAdhesion Studied by AFM (Ewa P. Wojcikiewicz and Vincent T.Moy).Chapter 11. Resolving the Thickness and MicromechanicalProperties of Lipid Bilayers and Vesicles Using AFM (GuangzhaoMao and Xuemei Liang).Chapter 12. Imaging Soft Surfaces by SFM (Andreas Janke andTilo Pompe).Chapter 13. High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy of Biomoleculesin Motion (Tilman E. Schäffer).Chapter 14. Atomic Force Microscopy in Cytogenetics (S.Thalhammer and W. M. Heckl).Chapter 15. Atomic Force Microscopy in the Study ofMacromolecular Interactions in Hemostasis and Thrombosis: Utilityfor Investigation of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome (William J.Montigny, Anthony S. Quinn, Xiao-Xuan Wu, Edwin G. Bovill, Jacob H.Rand, and Douglas J. Taatjes).Index