On-site manipulation of single DNA molecules using optically-driven microchopsticks

摘要

This paper reports a novel DNA manipulation technique for the analysis of single DNA molecules under a fluorescence microscope. We successfully manipulated single DNA molecules using two microstructures driven by two laser beams, where we handled them like “chopsticks”. We evaluated the dimensions and the shapes of microstructures, intended for grasping single DNA molecules efficiently. We have found that the geometry of the structure is dominant parameter for effective handling of single DNA molecules. This manipulation technique allows the imaging of single DNA molecules with its intact state, which will lead to the nanotechnology-based DNA analysis.